Week 2 - Australian Open men's qualifying - hard

Jajon · Club Coach

Week 2 - Australian Open men's qualifying - hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Fantastic. 2 going through at pretty much the same time.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Watched last half of 2nd set. At one point I was a bit concerned since he seemed to double up before reaching for the towel. Thought he might be somewhat spent. Solid to the end though. Well done Dan.

Babfive · Satellite level

Well done Dan! biggrin

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Good to see Dan is back playing at the level he is capable of. I dont think that there has ever been a question that he is one of our most naturally gifted players technically ever, harnessing that gift within the broader skill set and attitudes required to play at the very top of the game has always been his issue. I am so pleased for him, admittedly given his talent its the first step, he needs to sustain it but relatively few players under 5ft 10 get to play top 20 tennis, they all tend to be characterised by a fantastic attitude, immense stamina, focus and mental toughness.

Life is never boring watching Dan play tennis, it is as if he uses the Dean Smith tactical play book. More power to his elbow and onwards

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Dan's reward is a match against another qualifier Tatsuma Ito. Winner of that match to play Istomin or Federer.

JonH · All-time great

Great news and well done!

Jan · Hall of fame

Fab news! Really pleased for Dan

Priesty · Challenger level

kundalini wrote:
Dan's reward is a match against another qualifier Tatsuma Ito. Winner of that match to play Istomin or Federer.

Definitely winnable IMHO, although 5 sets in the heat may present a physical endurance challenge to which he is not really accustomed since the time away.

Well done Dan!! biggrin

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

Hopefully he will take a lot of heart from the Istomin win, although slightly more trying conditions this time!

The Realist · Junior player

Huge congratulations Dan! and good luck in main draw

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Robin · Lower Club Player

Well done Dan!!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

So pleased for Dan.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Michael D wrote:
Does anyone have an update on Dan's coaching arrangements? That's what I'm really interested in, since we know he has the potential to be back in the top 100. Keep wishing he could get Mark Hilton back, since I think Mark was far more valuable to Dan than he is to Kyle, who has Freddie Rosengren as his main coach.
He has David Felgate in his corner. There's a report in today's Times on the outcome of the Dutra Silva match which comments on the new arrangement. I haven't time to type out the relevant extracts now (have no note of my password for the Times site with me), but as my home IP appears to been banned for some reason best known to the powers that be ( ), the relevant bits will have to wait till tomorrow.

As promised:

The article is headed: Revitalised Dan Evans ready to "kick on"

Watching on from the side of Melbourne Park's Court 15 - a stone's throw from the city centre - was the animated David Felgate. The 54-year-old former coach of Britain's four-times Wimbledon semi-finalist, Tim Henman, began working with Evans through the renowned Junior Tennis Coaching academy in Chiswick, west London, at the start of the grass-court season last June.

"He [Felgate] obviously knows what he's talking about," Evans said. "It's been going great. I agree with what he says on everything about my game."

Their partnership could well be a fruitful one. Their no-nonsense, straight-talking personalities make for an excellent fit.

"I said to him that I didn't want to be involved unless the target is to be better than he was before," Felgate said. "I love Australia but I don't need to have a holiday. If I can help him I would like to be a part of something that takes him back to better than he was before. I know there is a long way to go for that.

And kick on he has, on the evidence so far at least. Keep up the good work, lad!