Henman Wary Of A “Real” Evans Turnaround

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 29th August 2013

Henman Wary Of A “Real” Evans Turnaround

epa03841123 Andreas Seppi of Italy hits a return to Xavier Malisse of Belgium during their match on the third day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 28 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Back in the days of their pomp in the world’s top ten, Britain’s top two British players before the days of Andy Murray rarely saw eye to eye on anything. And it seems Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski still share opposing points of view when it comes to Dan Evans, the world no.179 who today faces Bernard Tomic for a place in the US Open’s third round.

Regardless of Evans’ superbly straight sets win over 11th seed Kei Nishikori in the first round, Henman wants more evidence that the 23 year-old from Birmingham has put his wayward days and lifestyle barely befitting a committed tennis player behind him.

“When you talk about commitment there are no grey areas, you are either in or you are out,” said Henman, hinting at the fact that Evans’ past indiscretions, such as being caught in a Wimbledon nightclub late before a junior doubles match, and repeatedly having his funding cut because of a lack of effort.

Meanwhile Rusedski opts to look more positively on Evans’ performances in the past months; playing an important role for Britain in the Davis Cup win against Russia that secured next month’s World Group playoff in Croatia and reaching two Challenger finals in the build up to the US Open.

But it was the 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over Nishikori that so impressed Rusedski he insisted on buying dinner for the player and his support team. “”That was an absolutely brilliant performance from Dan,” said the 1997 US Open finalist.

“He was down a break in the first set, came back to win it 6-4, was down a break early in the second set and found a way to win that set and then really finished it off in style.”

Rusedski, like most other people who work in the LTA’s Performance coaching set-up, has done his bit to try and persuade Evans of the virtues of hard work and commitment. He said: “Dan’s finally starting to fulfill his potential.

“We’ve seen glimpses of it – he reached the third round at Queen’s where he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro then he played really well this summer getting to the finals of two Challengers – and he looks like at the moment he’s putting things together mentally, physically and doing all the right things.

“It’s part of a lifestyle choice, though – making sure you’re not going out doing things you shouldn’t be doing.

“Leon Smith, the LTA’s Head of Men’s Tennis, has put a lot of time in and so has his physical trainer. But it comes down to the player making a choice and saying ‘I want to do something with my career and look back and say I gave it my most’. That’s a maturation process that is finally happening with him.”

Evans is clearly delighted at Rusedski’s observations and refuses to be overly angered riled by Henman’s point of view. But he did say: “I saw what he said. There’s no harm in saying ‘Well done’ is there? That would have been nice.”

But a more philosophical Evans continued: “He is right, I understand where he is coming from, he has been No.4 in the world.

“That result is proof that since the end of January I have been applying myself more. I have been working quite hard and now I have got to step up again and work harder, with a fitness trainer and coach and do it day in, day out for a sustained period of time.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Bernard Tomic, Dan Evans, Davis Cup, Kei Nishikori, Lta, Tennis, Tim Henman, US Open, Wimbledon