Australian Open: Andy Murray and Dan Evans in last-16 action on Sunday

Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Dan Evans will both be playing in the last 16 of the Australian Open on Sunday.

World number one Murray, 29, plays Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who is 50th in the rankings, before Dan Evans faces France’s 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

This is Evans’ best run at a Grand Slam after victories over Marin Cilic and Bernard Tomic in the last two rounds.

“It was a goal to make the fourth round of a Slam this year,” said the 26-year-old, who is ranked 51st in the world.

“It’s satisfying, but I’m not looking back. Whatever happens, it’s been a great tournament, but there’s still some tennis to be played.”

Tsonga, an Australian Open finalist in 2008, is expecting a tough challenge in their match, which will not start before 05:30 GMT.

“He’s very talented, he can do everything,” said Tsonga. “He can play short points or rallies and he’s got a one-handed backhand which isn’t easy to control.”

• Live scores, results and order of play
• Who is new tennis star Dan Evans?
• Feature: Has Djokovic’s desire burned itself out?
• How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

Murray is expected to be in action at about 03:00 GMT on Sunday and thinks he will have to change his tactics against Zverev.

“He has a very different game style to most of the guys now, he’s serve-volleying, coming forward as much as possible,” said Murray.

“He doesn’t serve like 220km/h. He serves 185s, 190s, but places it well. People say you can’t play that way any more and be successful, but he’s done that the last few months.”

Zverev, the older brother of 19-year-old rising star Alexander Zverev, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the third round, hopes to frustrate the Scot.

“If he plays his best tennis, obviously I don’t have a lot of chances, but it’ll depend on the day,” said Zverev. “Let’s see if I can annoy him a little bit. If I’m serving well and not missing any volleys, maybe I can do some damage.”

The last time two British men made the quarter-finals of the same Grand Slam tournament was in 1997 when Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski reached the last eight at Wimbledon.

Murray can do ‘remarkable things’ – Agassi

Murray has lost in five Australian Open finals, but the man he lost to in four of those matches, Novak Djokovic, is out of the tournament.

Former world number one Andre Agassi thinks this could be Murray’s year.

“This is a heck of an opportunity for Andy,” said the American. “He’s certainly come into his best years and if he lines everything up he has the runway free to do some remarkable things.”

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Nadal Survives Zverev In Melbourne

Nadal Survives Zverev In Melbourne

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Australian Open: Johanna Konta praises support from her family and friends

Great Britain’s Johanna Konta says her family and coaches were crucial to her progress after the Lawn Tennis Association cut her funding in 2015.

Konta, 25, has reached the last 16 of the Australian Open, after playing in the semi-finals in Melbourne last year.

In 2015, the LTA reduced Konta’s funding, as part of wider cuts in support for emerging players, which saw Konta relocate her training to Spain.

“That period of time was very difficult,” said the world number nine.

“When the organisation decided to stop funding me it wasn’t in my benefit. It’s not a cheap sport and whether through a federation, a private sponsor or a family, no-one gets there without help.

“I don’t believe tough love is the answer and I was very fortunate to have very good people around me.

“My family, my support system, also my coaches at the time did a tremendous job in pulling together and making sure our focus remained on the work and not on external situations out of our control.”

Sydney-born Konta has previously said she was grateful for the support the LTA has offered since she became a British citizen in 2012.

Konta plays 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the last 16 in Australia after a convincing 6-3 6-1 win over Danish former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

“I was very happy with the way I was able to assert myself from the beginning and maintain my level to the end,” said Konta.

“Against someone like Caroline, she’s not going to give it to you – you really have to earn it.”

Konta beat Makarova 4-6 6-4 8-6 in last year’s Australian Open and the winner of their match on Monday could face six-time winner Serena Williams in the quarter-finals.

On Makarova, Konta added: “Every time we play, we have a battle. That match last year was a high-level match from both of us. She always seems to do well on these courts and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Gordon Reid loses Australian Open warm-up tournament final

Britain’s Gordon Reid lost his final warm-up match before next week’s Australian Open wheelchair events.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic singles gold medallist and world number one was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 by world number four Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina in the final of the Melbourne Open.

But compatriot Alfie Hewett was a winner in the men’s doubles.

Hewett and Fernandez beat top seeds Joachim Gerard of Belgium and France’s Nicolas Peifer 6-3 6-4.

Reid and Hewett are among four British players involved in the wheelchair tennis events at the first Grand Slam of the year, which start on Wednesday, with Lucy Shuker (women’s singles and doubles) and Andy Lapthorne (quad singles and doubles) also in action.

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Australian Open 2017: Rafael Nadal beats Alexander Zverev in five sets

Former champion Rafael Nadal overcame rising star Alexander Zverev in a gripping contest to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The Spaniard, who won the title in 2009, came through 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 in four hours and six minutes.

Zverev, 19, had recovered a break early in the final set before requiring treatment for cramp.

Nadal, 30, goes on to face France’s Gael Monfils or Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the last 16.

• Watch highlights of day six on BBC Two from 15:05 GMT on Saturday.

Belgian 11th seed David Goffin impressed with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, setting up a clash with Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Denis Istomin, the qualifier from Uzbekistan who stunned Novak Djokovic in round two, produced another superb effort to beat Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2.

Thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista won the all-Spanish battle with 21st seed David Ferrer 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

More to follow.

• Live scores, results and order of play
• How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

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Serena powers through at Australian Open

Six-time champion Serena Williams eased past fellow American Nicole Gibbs to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The world number two, chasing a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, won 6-1 6-3 in 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, 35, goes on to face Czech 16th seed Barbora Strycova, who beat France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2 7-5.

“She’s human, and she is beatable,” Strycova said of facing Williams in the last 16.

“This is a Grand Slam, and we are talking that she already won, but I don’t like these talks.”

• Live scores, results and order of play
• How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova came through a dramatic match to beat Slovakian sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.

Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni also advanced to the fourth round for the first time with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Before this year, the 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni’s only previous win at the Australian Open came back in 1998.

She next faces American qualifier Jennifer Brady, the world number 116 who followed up her second-round win over Heather Watson by defeating 14th seed Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

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Federer Lets His Hair Down

Federer Lets His Hair Down

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He bought own kit & was snubbed by Pietersen – meet GB's new star

Four days ago, Dan Evans was not exactly a household name.

The British tennis player had just reached his first ATP final and moved to number 51 in the world rankings.

But that was not enough to get a photograph with former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen, who turned down Evans’ request when they met outside a restaurant in Melbourne this week.

However, the 26-year-old might soon be the one getting asked for selfies after his stunning start to the Australian Open.

Evans caused a shock when he reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3) win over Australian 27th seed Bernard Tomic on Friday.

The Birmingham-born player will pocket at least $130,000 (£79,000) for reaching the fourth round, regardless of whether he beats France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

But the British number three was a little rankled by the snub from the batsman, 35, who is in Australia to play for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

“There was some serious rage for about 20 minutes after that happened,” said Evans.

“He didn’t want me to have my picture with him. Quite funny, isn’t it, how things work out? He was my favourite cricketer until that point.

“I think he was worse for wear, That was his excuse when he replied [on Twitter]. It was so embarrassing, as well. He didn’t even just say, ‘No’. He handed me off, as well.”

Evans’ career in stats

‘He would have been proud of my efforts’

Immediately after winning the final point of the match against Tomic, Evans was overcome with emotion and was seen pointing up to the sky.

He later revealed it was a tribute to his former coach Julien Hoferlin, who died of cancer last year.

In 2014 Hoferlin criticised Evans, saying tennis was just a “brief interlude in his life”.

Speaking after his victory on Friday, Evans told the BBC: “When he [Horferlin] coached me I didn’t give 100% at the time and there was off-court stuff he wasn’t happy with.

“I wish he could have seen what happened tonight, he would have been proud of my efforts. He always said I could do it and that I should be playing top-40 tennis. Tonight was for him.”

Evans deals with nuisance spectator

Evans managed to overcome being distracted by an unruly spectator at the Hisense Arena.

“This guy was coughing as I was throwing the ball up, as well as screaming at me when I was losing points,” he said.

Evans was also asked about comments from Tomic’s father and coach, John, who once told him he was not good enough to train with his son.

The British number three said Tomic Sr congratulated him in the changing room after the match.

“It was nice of him,” added Evans. “I didn’t have a problem with him at all, to be honest. It was his opinion.”

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Colin Fleming Retires From Professional Tennis

Colin Fleming Retires From Professional Tennis

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Inglot/Mergea Advance, Aussies Oust Seeds

Inglot/Mergea Advance, Aussies Oust Seeds

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