Dan Evans got his Wimbledon off to the best possible start as he knocked out three-time quarter-finalist Feliciano Lopez in straight sets on No2 Court on Tuesday.
The British No1 and tournament No22 seed did little wrong with 14 unforced errors to his opponent’s 37 and by converting three of the four break points he had in a 7-6 6-2 7-5 win.
In addition, he won 89% of points on his first serve and was never truly tested in winning all 16 of his service games.
“It’s amazing to be back playing at Wimbledon again,” he said after the win. “I didn’t realise it was going to be as busy. I’m delighted to win. It’s a difficult match on the grass so I’m happy how I came through.”
It was a tightly contested opening set between two players at ease on the grass but Evans got the first mini break in a tiebreak in which he was never behind.
He broke twice in the second set, winning five games in a row, and, while the third set was tighter, he took the set and the first-round win by breaking Lopez once more.
Harriet Dart, however, failed in her bid to win. Dart, who made the third round at the last championships in 2019, lost out 6-1 6-3 to Elise Mertens.
Dart’s one-time doubles partner Jay Clarke was another to lose on day two, his 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-2 defeat at the hands of Egor Gerasimov, of Belarus.
