By Tony Fairbairn
- Dan Evans def Roberto Bautista Agut [17] 6-3 5-7 7-6(2)
- Evans v Andrey Rublev [6]| H2H: Tied at 2-2
MADRID, SPAIN – Dan Evans edged out Roberto Bautista Agut in a last set tiebreak to reach the last 16 in Madrid where he faces Andrey Rublev.
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Dan Evans def Roberto Bautista Agut [17] 6-3 5-7 7-6(2)
Dan Evans is into the third round in Madrid after winning a last set tiebreak over Roberto Bautista Agut. Both players started with confidence on serve and were hitting the ball cleanly from the back of the court with Bautista Agut constructing the more clever and effective points.
However it was the Brit who created the more opportunities on return and offered creativity in the second part of the set to gain the advantage. Evans broke on his last two return games and took both break point opportunities as he put on a clinical returning display to take the opening set in 41 minutes.
The second set had a similar feel to it with both players being effective on serve and Bautista Agut increasing the intensity from the baseline. Despite this Evans continued to hammer the winners with clever combinational play and earned three break points in the sixth game.
However this time Evans wasn’t so clinical and the 17th seed made him pay in the eleventh game as he earned his reward for patient play as he broke on his third break point for a 6-5 lead. Bautista Agut endured another tough service game as he levelled the match at one set all by converting his third break point.
Things turned cagey and tense in the deciding set with Evans not being as aggressive and positive with his approach at the start of the final set. After wasting two more break points, Evans conceded the break with Bautista Agut’s consistency proving deadly as he took a 3-2 lead. The Brit had to ride off the wave of momentum from the Spaniard, who had three more break points in the next return game.
Evans managed to do that and was rewarded for his resilience by breaking easily when Bautista Agut served for the match as he levelled the set at 5-5. It was now Evans’ turn to be confident as that break gave him a spark of life and the Brit had match point in the eleventh game on the Spaniard’s serve.
However bold play from the world number 19 ensured that the final set would head to a tiebreak. In the end it was Evans who overall deserved the victory and his positive and aggressive tennis in the tiebreak paid off as he sealed victory after two hours and 59 minutes to reach the last 16 in Madrid.
Dan Evans v Andrey Rublev [6] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Dan Evans v Andrey Rublev [8] | H2H: Tied at 2-2 |
| Madrid Open | Madrid, Spain |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €90,745 |
| First on Arantza Sanchez Stadium at 12pm (11am BST) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Evans now takes on in-form Andrey Rublev in the third round who edged past another Brit in Jack Draper in the previous round.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022 – Clay)
| H2H: | Dan Evans (WR 35) | Andrey Rublev (WR 8 |
| Tournament Previous Best | R3 (2021) | R2 (2021) |
| 1st Serve % | 68.3 | 63 |
| Service Games Won % | 74.7 | 81.6 |
| Break Points Saved % | 64.2 | 69.8 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 49.2 | 51.8 |
| Break Points Converted % | 53.1 | 44.3 |
Rublev’s form on the clay speaks for itself but what is also evident is Evans’ improvement on clay over the last couple of matches.
Playing Styles and Prediction
Rublev struggled against Draper in the last round but used his experience to get through the match and his belief in the important moments showed why he is one of the form players on clay right now. The Russian’s title win in Belgrade was equally important as Rublev looks to build momentum towards a deep Roland Garros run.
Evans will need to play an aggressively like he did against Bautista Agut and try and keep the ball as low as possible if he wants any chance of getting a result against Rublev. Draper showed aggressive tactics can work against the Russian and Evans will look to do the same. However this match never really suits the Brit and especially on clay, Rublev should reach the quarters here.
Prediction: Rublev in three sets.
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