Australian Open 2019: Dan Evans sets up second-round meeting with Roger Federer

Evans won his first match in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for nearly two years, beating Japan’s Tatsuma Ito 7-5, 6-1, 7-6

Evans is through to the second round (REUTERS)

Nine months after returning without a world ranking following a one-year suspension because of a drugs offence, Dan Evans will meet Roger Federer here on Wednesday in the Australian Open after becoming the only British man to reach the second round.

On a day when Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie all lost, Evans won his first match in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for nearly two years when he beat Japan’s Tatsuma Ito 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 with a performance that demonstrated how he has lost none of his talent.

Evans, who lost to Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon in straight sets in their only previous meeting three years ago, described the prospect of meeting the 20-times Grand Slam champion again as “a good opportunity”.

He added: “It’s not very often you get to play Roger on obviously a pretty big court, I'm guessing. I look forward to it.”

Federer said he remembered “playing well” against Evans at Wimbledon but also recalled their meeting at the Hopman Cup in Perth two years ago. It was the former world No 1’s first match after his six-month break from the game.

“It was a good match,” Federer recalled. “I liked the way he played. He's got all the shots. He likes to take chances, takes the ball early. It's nice to see him back on the tour as well. I'm happy for him that he won his first round.”

The victory over Ito was Evans’ first match in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for nearly two years. The 28-year-old Briton has had to work tirelessly to return to Grand Slam competition.

A series of good performances at Challenger level saw the former world No 41 break back into the world’s top 200 at the end of last year. That was also enough to earn Evans a place in the qualifying tournament here and he went on to win three matches to secure his place in the main draw.

Ito, the world No 150, also came through the qualifying tournament, but it was his opponent, the world No 189, who dominated from the start.

Evans was superior in most departments. He hit nine aces and, crucially, made only 34 unforced errors compared with 61 by Ito. The Briton attacked the net at every opportunity and hit some smart volleys.

After Evans had broken serve to lead 6-5 in the opening set, Ito had treatment on his left thigh. Evans had to save a break point in the following game but went on to serve out for the set.

Ito had more treatment early in the second set, at the end of which he took a lengthy comfort break. The 30-year-old Japanese recovered from an early break in the third set, which eventually went to a tie-break.

Evans thought he had won the tie-break at 6-5, only for video replay cameras to show that he had hit a forehand beyond the baseline. Another match point came and went before Ito hit a forehand long as Evans won the tie-break 10-8.

Roger Federer comfortably defeated Denis Istomin in straight-sets (Getty)

“I played pretty well, especially towards the end,” Evans said. “I thought the level of the match was pretty high.”

Evans said he did not feel quite back at his best but said he was “getting there slowly day by day.”

Federer earned his meeting with Evans by beating Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. “I was hitting the ball pretty well,” the Swiss said afterwards. “I think I protected my serve well, didn't allow Denis really to get into my service games very often. I was always in the lead, as well. Obviously that helps.”

Nadal also began his campaign with a straight-sets victory, beating Australia’s James Duckworth 6-4, 6-3, 7-5. Marin Cilic, last year’s runner-up, beat another home player, Bernard Tomic, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6.

John Isner suffered the rare experience of losing to a taller opponent when he was beaten 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 by his fellow American, Reilly Opelka, in a match that featured 87 aces. Isner, who stands 6ft 10in tall, is an inch shorter that 21-year-old Opelka.