Dan Evans, Billy Harris Progress To Lexus Eastbourne Open Quarter-finals

 

Dan Evans will be playing in his first quarter-final since winning the 2023 Citi DC Open

Dan Evans outlasted American opponent Tommy Paul in his first appearance on grass-court this season and progressed to the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne Open. 

The Briton won in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and eliminated the 2024 Queen's Club champion. Evan established his control on the first set after converting a break-point after three advantages at 4/4. The American rallied in the second, breaking at 3/4 before claiming the set. 

Evans was revamped in the third, rallying to win a match point after winning his fourth break. The victory at Centre Court secured the quarter-final for the 2023 Citi Open champion. Meanwhile, the farthest the American had reached in any tournament this season was the semi-finals, and the latest was against Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open. 

"I played good tennis again, and thanks again to the crowd, you got me through," Evans reflected. "I know I've done the work, once I got some confidence, I knew the work was in the bank."

In a separate match, former British number one Cameron Norrie was eliminated by his countryman, Billy Harris, in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4 in the Round of 32. Harris secured his place in the quarter-finals as the first British player to do so, after defeating Mattia Bellucci in straight sets by 6-3, 6-4. 

Evan, 35, will face Jenson Brooksby in the last eight, while Harris will take on Italian opponent, Ugo Humbert.