Dan Evans says he is dreaming of a Centre Court clash with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in the second round on Thursday after he ousted fellow British wildcard Jay Clarke.
Evans was in fine form on Court 12 as he came through 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 in a commanding straight-sets victory he described as “one of my top, top wins in my career”.
In his pre-tournament press conference, Evans had been drawn to tears by a question about his lowest moment. In an emotional response, the Englishman admitted feeling insecure about whether his family and friends were secretly of the belief that he had passed his peak to the extent that he should retire.
But Birmingham-born Evans defied his 35 years as he got the better of Clarke on a sweltering Court 12, which trapped the heat and was in full sunlight throughout.
Evans’ prize for victory is likely to be a meeting with the 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic, assuming the Serb makes it past France’s Alexandre Muller on Centre Court on Tuesday evening.
Evans, ranked 154th globally, has made it to the fourth round at SW19 but has reached the third round on three occasions, while 196th-ranked Clarke reached the second round for the first and only time in 2019. This is the first time Evans has reached the second round since 2021.
Speaking on court afterwards, Evans said: “It was amazing. It’s really unfortunate to have to play Jay. Two guys from the Midlands. I grew up with his sister and we went to the same academy together. It’s just a bit unfortunate.
“I’m just delighted to come through it. I played really well today. I wanted to win just to have a chance at Novak. That’s the bottom line! I’d love it to be on Centre [Court]. That’s all I ask, against the greatest of all time.
“I never stopped believing, but you have doubts. I had so many friends here today to just enjoy today whatever happened. Today meant everything. Yes, wildcard versus wildcard, but that’s one of my top, top wins in my career.”
Clarke was broken to love in his first service game, prompting calls of ‘allez’ and ‘vamos’ from Evans, who then consolidated the break with a hold to love. Shortly after, Evans broke again for 5-1 and held serve to take the first set in straightforward fashion.
Evans had to mutter a number of apologies to a ball boy after hitting him with a wayward serve early in the second set, and shortly afterwards he needed to clamber back from 3-1 down, made to work hard in one of the match’s longest games to level the set at three games apiece.
He eventually took it 7-5 thanks to a decisive break late in the set, with 26-year-old Clarke now facing a long way back.
The lead Evans had built up would ultimately prove insurmountable for Clarke, who went 5-1 down in the third set, serving out a hold to stay in the match before Evans, who never produced a double fault, served out the match to advance to the second round.
