Dan Evans in the Nature Valley Open, ATP Challenger Nottingham 2018
Dan Evans in the Nature Valley Open, ATP Challenger Nottingham 2018 | (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Australian Open 2021 | Dan Evans [30] v Cameron Norrie | Preview & Prediction

  • Dan Evans [30] v Cameron Norrie
  • H2H: Evans leads 1-0 (Challenger)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Newly minted ATP title holder Dan Evans takes on fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in the first round of the Australian Open.

 

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H2H & Match Fundamentals

Dan Evans [30] v Cameron Norrie H2H: Evans leads 1-0 (Challenger)
Australian Open Melbourne, Australia
Hard (O) Prize Money: A$100,000
Fourth on Court 8, not before 4pm (5am GMT) Tennis TV/Eurosport Player if available

 

 

READ MORE | Tennis | Australian Open 2021 | Latest Schedule, Draws, Results & How to Watch

 

Preview: Dan Evans [30] v Cameron Norrie | H2H: Evans leads 1-0 (Challenger)

It has been a bit of a whirlwind for Dan Evans as the British No. 1 won his first ATP Tour level title on his third attempt. He opted to skip the season openers at the start of the year and opted to come straight to Australia and was rewarded with a steady improvement in his game.

Cameron Norrie, on the other hand, started his year in Delray Beach with a run to the semi-final but despite a great start in his opening match in the ATP Murray River Open, lost out to Tommy Paul in three sets in his opener.

Looking back over last season, they are quite closely matched, born out by the fact that their encounters in the domestic Battle of the Brits saw them swap wins.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2020)

H2H: Dan Evans [30] (33) Cameron Norrie (67)
Tournament Previous Best R2 (2019, 2020) R1 (2019, 2020)
1st Serve % 60 65
Service Games Won % 78 73
Break Points Saved % 59 60
2nd Serve Return Points Won % 51 49
Break Points Converted % 42 42

 

Playing Styles

Embed from Getty Images

Evans seemed to have settled into his game over the week, after a couple of very tight early rounds, on the day he had to play twice it all seemed to click for him, and he was very impressive in the ATP Murray River Open final, closing down Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Norrie doesn’t really use his serve as a weapon, but it can be effective, but he has been very effective coming forward and certainly at the end of last year it looked as though he sharpened up his movement very well.

 

Prediction

It is always tough when Brits have to face each other, and with just two men in the singles draw, it is a real shame that we will be down to one so quickly. The momentum is with Evans and he just has a little more experience, but we can expect Norrie to make this very competitive and it would be no surprise if he actually grabbed a set off the British No. 1.

Prediction: Evans in four sets.

Evans and Norrie are scheduled fourth on Court 8, not before 4pm (5am GMT).

 

 

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