Evans, Schwartzman Move Into Wimbledon Second Round

  • Posted: Jun 29, 2021

Home favourite Daniel Evans got his Wimbledon campaign up and running with a 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-5 victory over Feliciano Lopez on Tuesday before rain started to fall at The Championships.

Evans, who reached back-to-back quarter-finals at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Nottingham and the cinch Championships in London, continued his momentum as he faced Lopez on No. 2 Court. He withstood 38 winners including 13 aces from the Spanish lefty, and saved all three of the break points he faced en route to victory.

“It was a good way to come through, it was pretty efficient. I feel I played solid tennis and was more controlled than previous matches over the grass,” Evans said. “I had to be ready from the get-go and really focused and be sharp. I felt I was.

“It was difficult. It’s always going to be a difficult match against Feli. I thought there’d probably be a tie-break or two in there. I was ready to be good in those moments. I did a good job and I’m happy to come through.”

Evans, the 22nd seed, awaits the winner of Dusan Lajovic and Gilles Simon as he seeks a spot in the third round to equal his best Wimbledon result (also 2016 and 2019). 

After yesterday’s rain, there were 16 first-round matches in the top half of the draw still to be completed, including seven in-progress matches that were rescheduled for Tuesday. Ninth seed Diego Schwartzman and 26th seed Fabio Fognini were among the players who returned to complete their rain-affected opening matches to move into the second round. 

Schwartzman led Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 on Monday before darkness halted play. The Argentine didn’t miss a beat when they resumed, racing through the final set to secure a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory. He struck 16 winners and only five unforced errors in the match to Paire’s 26 and 52, respectively. 

View Tuesday’s Schedule | Listen To Radio Wimbledon | List Of Broadcasters (PDF)

With the victory, Schwartzman improved to 2-1 in his ATP Head2Head against Paire, with both their previous meetings coming on clay. He will next face British wildcard Liam Broady, who defeated his own first-round opponent, Marco Cecchinato, with an identical scoreline, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. 

Fognini also came through a stern opening test against Albert Ramos-Vinolas after leading 7-6(4), 6-2 on Monday. The Italian improved to 9-2 in his ATP Head2Head with Ramos-Vinolas after securing the third set 6-4. He awaits the winner of Laslo Djere and Pablo Cuevas in the second round.

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