Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. HOME News Royal Showbiz & TV Sport Comment Finance Travel Entertainment Life & Style Football Tennis Transfer news F1 Boxing UFC Cricket Rugby Other Golf NFL Racing NBA British tennis star Dan Evans notched the biggest title of his career with a win over Tallon Griekspoor. 08: 49, Mon, Aug 7, 2023 | UPDATED: 11: 01, Mon, Aug 7, 2023
Novak Djokovic on the importance of routinesDan Evans poked fun at Citi Open finalist Tallon Griekspoor after beating the Dutchman in Washington DC. The Brit also paid tribute to an ‘amazing’ week, having picked up the biggest tournament win of his career with his second-ever ATP title.
Evans will jump up to 21 in the men’s world rankings after his dream run at the Citi Open. Big wins over Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov set up Sunday’s clash with Griekspoor, where he came through in straight sets.
Victory marks the first ATP 500 title of the 33-year-old’s career, and he will bank a healthy pay packet after prevailing 7-5 6-3 in a match which was interrupted by a 90-minute rain delay.
“Thanks to everybody for staying, first and foremost,” Evans said. “I’ve been here a lot of times now and it gets better and better.
Dan Evans addressed the crowd after his memorable Citi Open win (Image: Twitter: @TennisTV)
“This year has obviously been amazing. I couldn’t have really thought about [winning] at the start of the week. Amazing week.”
Subsequently turning the attention to his beaten opponent, Evans cheekily added: “Tallon, sorry but… you’ve had enough [wins] this year. Tallon’s team – great guy, great week. To my team, thank you so much, it genuinely means the world to me. Thank you.”
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Griekspoor has won two ATP titles in 2023. His first came at the Maharashtra Open back in January before a fantastic run at Hertogenbosch, where he beat Jordan Thompson to the crown in the lead-up to Wimbledon.
Evans, meanwhile, suffered two consecutive first-round exits coming into the Citi Open. One of which was a devastating defeat against Quentin Halys at the All England Club, which saw him fall at the first hurdle on home soil.
Tallon Griekspoor fell short against Dan Evans in the Citi Open final (Image: Getty)
An improbable win in Washington DC leaves Evans in good shape heading into the Canadian Open, where he is due to face Gabriel Diallo, and the US Open which gets underway later this month.
The Brit has never made it beyond the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, or indeed any Grand Slam tournament. Having jumped up the world rankings, Evans is now within touching distance of Cameron Norrie in the fight to be British No 1.
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