Evans Is Becoming A Serious British Tennis Player

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th September 2013

Evans Is Becoming A Serious British Tennis Player

epa03845778 Daniel Evans of Great Britain hits a return to Tommy Robredo of Spain during their match on the sixth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 31 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/PETER FOLEY |

British up-and-comer Dan Evans is trying to take his tennis cues from established compatriot Andy Murray as the Liverpool youngster ranked 149 begins to try and scramble up the slippery slope of the ATP standings.

Evans, 23, admits to formerly being something of a hell-raiser on his nights out, is now following the example of teetotaler Murray and cutting down on his socializing. “I did like to go out and have a drink with my friends, and maybe a little bit too much sometimes,” he told London’s Daily Mail. “But then again every 21- or 22-year-old does.”

But his new substitute activity: “I play a lot of golf, I go to see family, I have two little nephews I love spending time with.”

Evans began proving himself on the courts and rising form the morasses of Everyone But Murray by qualifying for the US Open and then upsetting Japanese seed Kei Nishikori to reach the third round in a huge surprise before losing to Tommy Robredo. He then won the fifth rubber in the weekend Davis Cup playoffs to help Britain back into the World Group for 2014 on a team headed by world No. 3 Murray.

Now Evens is taking baby steps in coping with some new-found local fame. “It’s a little embarrassing really,” said player with multiple tattoos. “I’ve been out in Solihull and Birmingham, just having a quiet time with friends, and people have come up to me and said “well done”. A few things will change now, but it’s all positive I suppose.”

Evans is one of the rare players in class-conscious Britain to come from the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum. “My mum and dad are working class and now we’ve shown that a player can come through from that background as well.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, Dan Evans, Kei Nishikori, Sports, Tennis, Tommy Robredo, US Open