
By Ros Satar
- Dan Evans v Dustin Brown – H2H: 1-0
- Kyle Edmund v Gastao Elias – First Meeting
INDIAN WELLS – The Brits are out in full force on Friday as Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund begin their Indian Wells campaigns in Round One of the BNP Paribas Open.
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Dan Evans v Dustin Brown – H2H: 1-0
For the second tournament in a row, the British No. 2 Dan Evans comes up against the flamboyant but streaky Dustin Brown. There were a lot of expectations in their last encounter in Dubai.
The German can be quite the showman when he turns on the style, but he can lack the consistency that might have propelled him further up the rankings than his career high of No. 64.
As it was, Evans had more of the measure of the German and won quite comfortably, nullifying Brown’s version of first-strike tennis with some solid returning and aggressive play off the baseline.
Evans has improved his attitude immeasurably and now he is seeing the results, he ought to expect to come through this round with the same degree of ease. The court might serve Brown’s big serving more, but Evans has the tenacity to bully his way past the big serving and Brown can flummox his opponents with his
This may not be the entertaining encounter we had hoped to see in Dubai, but it should be a win for the Brit.
Prediction: Evans in two sets.
Kyle Edmund v Gastao Elias – First Meeting
Snapping at the heels of Evans in the ranking is Kyle Edmund, who is back in the chase to reclaim the mantle of British No. 2. While he is considerably higher up the pecking order than his opponent Gastao Elias, Edmund too can sometimes be a little hit and miss where his consistency is concerned.
This actually could be a bit of a test for the big-hitting Brit. His favourite combo of serve and blistering forehand could well meet its match from the Portuguese, who also relies on those for his progress in matches. However his return game can let him down, and if Edmund is perhaps in a more adventurous mood, he could make some gains at the net.
He has recognised this is an area of his game that could do with work, and surely his experience should guide him at least into the second round.
Prediction: Edmund in two sets.
Edmund is scheduled on Stadium 3, not before 12:3opm (8:30pm GMT) and Evans is scheduled on Stadium 2 not before 2pm (10pm GMT).
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