Dan Evans in the first round of the Nature Valley International, Eastbourne 2019
Dan Evans in the first round of the Nature Valley International, Eastbourne 2019 | (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | ATP Cagliari 2021 | Evans loses to Musetti in thriller

  • Lorenzo Musetti def. Dan Evans [1] 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(8)
CAGLIARI, ITALY – Lorenzo Musetti saved four match points in an epic second round encounter against Dan Evans.

 

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Lorenzo Musetti def. Dan Evans [1] 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(8)

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Dan Evans suffered a painful defeat to Lorenzo Musetti despite holding four match points. The top seed bows out of the tournament after a tenth consecutive loss in main draw clay court matches.

The Italian dominated proceedings early on, manoeuvring Evans around the court with ease. The Brit was reluctant to take risks and was helpless throughout the opening set as Musetti ran away with it in the end – 6-1.

The second set saw a complete change in momentum as the top seed started to attack at virtually every opportunity. Evans was taking his returns almost halfway inside the court and closed down the net as much as possible. The 30-year-old’s aggressive switch up rewarded him with a clinical 6-1 set to level the match up.

Both players produced their best tennis throughout the decider as an inevitable tiebreak loomed. Evans went 6-3 up in the breaker only for Musetti to display maturity way beyond his years by saving each match point. The Brit had another opportunity to close out the win but the teenager denied him once again. The Italian only needed one chance and closed out the 18-point breaker to claim another memorable win in 2021.

Evans is now on a four match losing streak, with his last victory coming in Dubai.

 

Evans is next scheduled to play in Monte Carlo.

 

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