Image Credit- BBC
The Stockholm open, which took place in Sweden between the 12thand the 20thof October, has finally concluded, with Canadian Denis Shapovalov (#27 in ATP ranking) winning the final against Serbian tennis player Filip Krajinovic with a score of 6-4 6-4.
However, during the tournament, a majority of the audience, especially the British, focused on English player Dan Evans. On the 14th October, he played a match against Australian Bernard Tomic. After an intense three-set game, he made it to the last sixteen, earning him the title of Britain’s number one.
However, it has not been an easy ride for Birmingham- born Evans. In April 2018, Evans returned to the sport after a one-year-ban due to a positive cocaine test. Rather heartbreakingly, the tennis star was said to have left his tennis racket at his parents house, due to his sadness at even looking at it.
Yet despite this heartbreak, he climbed back to the verge of the world’s top 100 by entering the second ATP final of his career in February.
After being denied a first title by Moldovan Radu Albot at the Delray Beach Open in February, he reached the third round of both Wimbledon and the US Open this year, soaring the rankings. Collectively, with these results and Andy Murray’s injury, Evans has arguably deserved the title of ‘Britain’s number One.’
Nevertheless, his good-form ended very soon. Two days later he had to face Krajinovic, and despite the game being relatively balanced, Evans could not defeat the Serbian, losing 6-3 in the penultimate third set.
The comparison with one of history’s best player’s Andy Murray is certainly too far fetched right now, however, Dan Evans is showing his capability and determination to put his past behind him and mark himself in history books.
The Brit wants to face new challenges that will archive his past, showing that top players should start to dread his competitiveness.