Australian Open 2019: Dan Evans delivers best display yet since comeback but Roger Federer marches on

Evans pushed the reigning Australian Open champion far harder than the 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 score suggests 12 months after returning from a year-long suspension

Dan Evans was thinking 12 months ago that he might never play again as he served out a one-year suspension for a drugs offence, but the 28-year-old Briton’s hard work in rebuilding his career and his world ranking was rewarded with an occasion to remember here at the Australian Open.

Evans was beaten 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 by Roger Federer in Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, but the scoreline barely did justice to the quality of the world No 189’s performance. For all the controversies and off-court transgressions that have coloured his career, Evans has always been blessed with outstanding ability and he gave a demonstration of it on one of the world’s biggest stages.

It was almost like a match from the past as both men played an elegant all-court game, mixing baseline power with stylish slices and frequently demonstrating their volleying ability at the net. There was even some occasional serve-and-volley as well as the rare sight of two players with one-handed backhands.

Federer said afterwards that playing Evans felt like “playing a mirror”. When told about the comment, Evans smiled. “I think he meant in game style rather than level,” the Briton said. “There are similarities but he obviously does a lot of things better than me.”

Evans never expected to enjoy moments like this when he was at home in Cheltenham last January feeling depressed. For the first nine months of his ban, which ended in April, he did not even pick up a racket. During the Australian Open he could not bring himself to watch tennis on television.

“I didn't think I'd ever play again,” Evans said. “They were difficult times. I didn’t know I would end up still having the people around me who were there. I was difficult to be around. Obviously I owe them a lot.”

Evans lost in straight sets to Federer in their only previous competitive meeting at Wimbledon three years ago, but this was a much closer affair. It was a high-quality match, full of well-constructed rallies, clean hitting and beautiful shot-making by both men.

The statistics told their own story. There were only 31 unforced errors in the match (17 by Federer, 14 by Evans) but 84 winners, with the 37-year-old Swiss hitting 56 to his opponent’s 28. Federer won 46 points in the match, which was only four more than Evans, but, crucially, the world No 3 saved his best for the biggest moments.

After the stifling heat of the first two days the conditions were much more comfortable. The temperature was a pleasingly warm 26C and for the most part the skies were overcast. A few drops of rain even fell midway through the first set, prompting a four-minute break as the court surface was dried with towels.

Evans, who had to win three matches in qualifying just to reach the main draw, will leave with the substantial compensation of a cheque for A$105,000 (nearly £59,000) in his pocket, which was more than he won in the whole of 2018 as he rebuilt his world ranking playing in Challenger tournaments.

There was almost nothing to choose between the two men in the opening set. Both held their serves with comparative ease and the only break point came when Evans served at 5-6. The Briton defended it in confident fashion by hitting a volley winner behind a big serve.

Roger Federer celebrates after beating Dan Evans to reach the third round (Reuters)

In the tie-break, conversely, nine of the 12 points went against serve. Evans was the first to win a point on serve to go 4-3 up and then produced one of his best moments of the match when he hit a superb forehand cross-court pass winner.

Evans was then just two point from winning the set, but Federer’s response could not be faulted. Leading 5-4, Evans played serve-and-volley again, only to be beaten by the defending champion’s precise return to feet. A missed volley then gave Federer set point, which he converted when Evans missed a backhand down the line.

When Federer, hitting some brilliant drop shots, went 2-0 up at the start of the second set the signs appeared ominous. Evans looked momentarily rattled, but the Briton quickly got his game back together.

Dan Evans congratulates Roger Federer after their Australian Open second round match (Reuters)

Serving at 3-5, Evans saved two set points with crisp winners and in the following game broke serve to keep the set alive. Federer went 15-40 down with his first double fault and on his second break point Evans hit his best shot of the match, a majestic backhand cross-court pass which flew beyond Federer’s reach.

However, there was rarely a doubt about the outcome of the second tie-break. Federer won the first three points, went 6-3 up with a splendid forehand cross-court winner and completed the job with an ace.

Evans had been at the top of his game through the first two sets but a costly mistake handed Federer the key to the third set. Serving at 1-2, Evans let slip a 40-0 lead and on break point hit what should have been a simple forehand beyond the baseline. Federer went on to serve out for victory after two hours and 35 minutes.

Federer said he could see Evans returning to the world’s top 50. “He’s a good player,” the defending champion said. “I've seen him play some really good matches over the years. I see why he can cause difficulties to players. He's got a nice slice, defending the court well. He has the variation, which is always a hard thing to play against.”

Evans is now targeting a place back inside the top 50 (Reuters) (REUTERS)

Now Evans has to continue rebuilding his world ranking, beginning at a Challenger tournament in Brittany next month. “That’s the real test for me – it’s not coming here to lose 6, 6 and 4 to Federer,” he said. “It’s in a few weeks when I need to get my ranking points to get into the top 100. That’s when I need to put that sort of level back on the court.”

He added: “I think I needed a good result in a bigger tournament to give me some confidence to go back to that and do some damage in those tournaments. Playing a good match today has given me a lot of confidence to go to the lower level, step up and just get the job done.”