Tennis news - Dan Evans sets up Rafael Nadal clash with victory over Alex De Minaur
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ByEurosport
Updated 07/08/2019 at 07:27 GMT
Great Britain’s Dan Evans will face 18-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Rogers Cup after beating Alex De Minaur 6-4, 7-6(8-6).
Daniel Evans of Great Britain hits a return against Alex de Minaur of Australia during day 5 of the Rogers Cup at IGA Stadium on August 6, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Image credit: Getty Images
The opening point of the match saw an epic 51-shot rally eventually won by Evans as he secured an early break.
The Brit had to battle to avoid being broken back but he held out and was able to serve out to take the opening match.
The pair then had one break each in the second set as it went to a tie break where the first three points were all breaks.
Australian teenager De Minaur, who is ranked 38 in the world, went into a 3-1 lead before Evans started to dig in.
He went to 6-5 and had match point only for De Minaur to save it, but Evans made no mistake at 7-6 as he took the tie break 8-6.
He will now face French Open champion Nadal who is also the defending champion and hasn’t played since he was knocked out of Wimbledon by Roger Federer in the semi-finals.
"It was so hot, I'm just happy to get through. I'm good physically so I never doubt myself but it is hard out here," Evans said after the match.
It will be the first time that Evans has ever faced the Spaniard.
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