Murray hopes Evans will be able to build on grand slam bow

Andy Murray expects Dan Evans to be a top-100 player if he continues to show the attitude that has taken him into the main draw of the US Open.
Great Britain's Dan Evans during the Davis Cup match against Russia's Evgeny Donskoy at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA WireGreat Britain's Dan Evans during the Davis Cup match against Russia's Evgeny Donskoy at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Great Britain's Dan Evans during the Davis Cup match against Russia's Evgeny Donskoy at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Murray is used to being the sole focus of British attention in the men’s singles draw at grand slams away from Wimbledon and always enjoys sharing some of the limelight.

Evans had a reputation as the bad boy of British tennis, more fond of a night out than spending time on the court or in the gym.

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But he has committed to the sport over the past few months and been rewarded with some eye-catching results.

His trip to North America has already brought him two high-level Challenger finals and three qualifying wins in New York have earned him a first-round shot at 11th seed Kei Nishikori today.

Murray is a big supporter of his fellow British players and tries to follow their matches, watching on the internet if he can, and tweeted congratulations to Evans and James Ward, who won a Challenger title in the US last month.

Evans, 23, will be British 
No 2 whatever happens against Nishikori after Ward just missed out on a place in the main draw, but he is hardly on Murray’s coat-tails, with a career-high ranking set earlier this month of 169.

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But he does have something in common with the Scot, who qualified at a grand slam for the first time in New York in 2005 as an 18-year-old.

Murray said: “I have seen him every day since we have been here. I was following his and James’s matches. They have had a few good weeks.

“It’s great that Dan has managed to qualify. It’s a big moment for him, qualifying for your first grand slam. I remember how that felt. It was a big achievement, and I hope he can kick on from here.”

While Evans is straight into the action, Murray expects to have to wait until Wednesday to begin the defence of his title against Michael Llodra.

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British women’s No 2 Heather Watson admits she did not give herself enough time to recover from glandular fever before returning to the tennis tour.

It has been a tough year for Watson, who struggled with the illness, initially undiagnosed, at the start and has not yet managed to get back on track.

After two months out recovering, she returned at the French Open in May but has won only four matches since and never more than one at each tournament.

Her ranking has slipped from a high of 39 in February to 77 going into the US Open, but Watson insists she is now fit and ready to turn things around.

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The 21-year-old described herself as feeling “tennis jet-lagged” and said her season really starts now.

New coach Jeremy Bates has been helping her mould her tactics ahead of her first-round match against 21st seed Simona Halep tomorrow.