Good Evans

Brit No.1 beats Monteiro of Brazil to keep winning run going at Flushing Meadows

- David McCarthy

Dan Evans has never lost a first-round US Open clash in five visits to Flushing Meadows – and he wasn’t about to start yesterday.

The British No.1 had to work hard in strength sapping conditions for the four-set victory over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in winning 6-3 6-7 6-4 6-1.

Ultimately he had too much quality for his world-ranked No.93 opponent (above), who had never won a match in New York.

And it was significant for Evans, who had failed to win the opening set in any of his six previous matches in the aftermath of catching Covid.

Evans admitted: “Getting Covid was pretty difficult for me. It was just like an injury that ground me to a halt. I had a pretty bad headache and I’ve never had that before.