US Open 2022: “Dan Evans becomes third man to make third round” – Delight for Great Britain

Great Britain’s dream start in the men’s singles at the 2022 US Open continued on Thursday as Dan Evans beat Australia’s James Duckworth to reach the third round.

Evans, ranked world No.23, started strongly on Court 12 by winning the first two sets and despite a Duckworth purple patch in the third, he battled back to win the fourth to set up a tough third-round tie against 15th-seed Marin Cilic, a US Open champion in 2014 and 20-time winner on the ATP Tour.

The British No.2’s best-ever Flushing Meadows run came last year when he progressed to the fourth round and the 32-year-old is bidding to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time ever in New York, adding his victory over world No.83 Duckworth to his opening win against Jiri Vesely.

Evans’ 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4 victory followed a massive win for fellow Brit Jack Draper overnight, who stunned sixth-seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.

It was arguably the biggest result of the 20-year-old’s career so far as he reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, playing in his debut US Open, with the world No.53 next in action against Russia’s 27th-seed Karen Khachanov.

‘Obviously Felix is an incredibly tough opponent, that’s why he’s at the top of the game,’ Draper said after the match. ‘I played a really good match today, a special occasion out here.

‘I’ve put in a lot of hard work the last few years. I’ve been unfortunate with injuries at a young age, I grew very quickly. I always had the tennis abilities, it’s been about staying fit and staying on court.’

SENSATIONAL

The moment @jackdraper0 beat the @usopen No.6 seed

🎥 @primevideosport pic.twitter.com/eC8DztmObm

— LTA (@the_LTA) September 1, 2022

Evans and Draper join Andy Murray in the third round at Flushing Meadows, after the former world No.1 defeated American wildcard Emilio Nava on Wednesday.

British No.1 Cameron Norrie is now bidding to become the fourth man to reach the US Open third round, as he battles against Portgual’s world No.59 Joao Sousa.

Norrie, seventh-seed at Flushing Meadows this year, is perhaps Britain’s best chance of winning the New York major following his opening win over Benoit Paire.

There has been less luck for Britain in the women’s singles, with Harriet Dart crashing out in the second round on Wednesday after last year’s champion Emma Raducanu suffered a shock defeat in the opening round to France’s Alize Cornet.

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