Dan Evans praise for 'hell of a player' Henry Searle after tight Rothesay Open battle
BySportsbeat
Published 13/06/2024 at 15:53 GMT
British veteran Dan Evans got the better of a tight battle with Henry Searle at the Rothesay Open, and the 34-year-old had words of praise for his young opponent - predicting he will go a long way in the game. "It was not really the draw I wanted to see when I saw he was next to my name but credit to him, he played great and I played very good as well," Evans said.
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Dan Evans booked his place in the quarter-finals of the LTA's Rothesay Open in Nottingham - but predicted a bright future for his 18-year-old opponent Henry Searle.
British No. 3 Evans, 34, got past the teenager 7-6(4) 7-6(5), and admitted he had to be at his best to beat the 2023 Junior Wimbledon champion.
Birmingham-born Evans believes the tough test can only help his preparations as he targets a third title at Nottingham and a successful season on grass.
"It was a good match," Evans said. "It was very tight. His game is very good for a grass court and it was a difficult match.
"It's not an easy match-up for me but I played well and he played well.
"He is obviously very good, he is going to be a hell of a player. I was fully ready and I had to be fired up to get across the line. I only just got across.
"It was an enjoyable match, I am just happy to come through. It was not really the draw I wanted to see when I saw he was next to my name but credit to him, he played great and I played very good as well.
"If I didn't play well today I wasn't winning the match. I couldn't play seven or eight out of 10, I had to play better and I did. I am just happy to come through it.
"That was such a tough match and should set me in good stead for the rest of the grass season."
Evans will face fellow British player Charles Broom in the last eight after the latter beat South African Lloyd Harris 7-6(2) 2-6 6-4.
For Evans, success on home soil underlines the importance of British tournaments in providing a platform for the next generation of stars.
"This is what it's all about, it's about the British players," Evans said. "This is where the younger guys can come through and make their mark, that's what they're doing.
"The more of these tournaments that are on, the more you guys can come and watch, everybody wins out of it."
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