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The last time Daniel Evans made an ATP Tour final, he dropped three league points. On Sunday, the Briton made no mistakes with the Murray River Open Trophy in play.
Evans beat Canadian #NextGenATP star Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-3 to win his first touring crown. The eighth seed triumphed over Maragaret Court Arena after an hour and 18 minutes.
In the 2019 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com Championship game, Evans was desperate to break through in a two-hour, 51-minute battle against Radu Albot, which featured a rain delay of nearly an hour. But he hasn’t been able to convert his three match points to claim ATP Tour glory.
There was no question about the outcome this time. Evans sprinkled Auger-Aliassime with constant changes of pace using his backhand slice, causing an abundance of unforced errors and putting more pressure on the 20-year-old.
“[In] in the last three games I’ve really put my game on the pitch and been decisive in how I’m going to play, ”said Evans. “I made clear decisions and [decided] come forward and be aggressive. The match point probably summed it up, hitting a forehand down the line and finishing at the net was a really good way to finish it.
Infosys ATP Stats – Evans vs. Auger-Aliassime
Stat | Daniel evans | Felix Auger-Aliassime |
First serve points | 74% | 58% |
Points earned in second serve | 72% | 42% |
Converted breakpoints | 5/8 | 1/1 |
Total points earned | 58% | 42% |
Auger-Aliassime entered the game 0-6 in the round-level finals without winning a set in any of them. When Evans broke 2-2 in the first set with a perfect forehand across the line and yelled “Come on!” It put even more pressure on the Canadian’s shoulders.
But the world No.21, the highest-ranked player in the untitled FedEx ATP rankings, never found his lineup from the baseline, and Evans didn’t allow him to pick up the pace. Auger-Aliassime had the greatest firepower, but his unforced errors – 32 in the game – were his downfall.
During the 5-2 change in the second set, as Evans prepared to serve for the title, “Sweet Caroline” rang over the stadium speakers. While Neil Diamond sang “reach out …”, the Briton could taste the victory. But that’s when he had his only hiccup of the match, a double fault to lose his serve on the first break point he faced.
Evans settled in and refocused in the next match, smashing Auger-Aliassime for the fifth time to secure his victory. The world No.33 has won 73% of his service points and has faced just one breaking point.
“I didn’t play well in the first two laps… I didn’t feel good at all. Hooked up, I found my level at the end and here we are, “said Evans.” I played good tennis [in] the last three games, probably some of the best things I’ve played.
Last season was the best of Evans’ career, as he earned eight victories against Top 20 opponents and rose to career 28th in the world.
“I wanted to win [a title], but today was just another game. I approached it that way, ”Evans said. Everyone wants to win. It’s a great feeling to win.
Did you know?
Evans hasn’t lost a set all week to become the first Briton to win an ATP Tour title since Kyle Edmund last February at the New York Open.
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