CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 17, 2021

Daniel Evans

Queens Club

Press Conference

D. EVANS/A. Mannarino

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How would you sum up that performance?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, a good solid win on the grass. I'd say it was a very difficult match but mostly pretty clinical and good, solid tennis, yeah.

Q. Do you feel like this summer you're playing with a little bit more pressure that you've put on yourself because you have done so well over the last six months or so? And you're the British No. 1 at the start of the grass court season and people are wishing you well, but I know sometimes that line is a very easy one to cross.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, you know, I spoke about that with my team. I haven't been putting expectations on myself. Without sounding like a broken record, I'm sure you've heard that before.

You know, I'm just enjoying the grass and playing my sort of brand of tennis. That normally comes hand in hand, if I do that stuff, it normally leads to some good matches on the grass and playing well. That will get me some good wins.

I think today showed that. It was a difficult match. You know, he was really, really tough to put away. So that's a great grass (audio lost) on the grass, so it was definitely a good win.

Q. You played him I think three years ago when you were sort of on your way back. It was slightly an agonizing defeat, as I remember. You had chances to win in the third set. I'm just wondering how much better sort of player do you feel you are now than you were at that stage of your career?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, if I'm honest, I can't really remember, you know, back then too well. I know I had a lot of chances, but I don't really remember -- I know I was just coming back, yeah, so it's difficult to remember sort of level I was playing. But it must have been semi-decent stuff.

But, you know, now I think I'm in a good position and, you know, heading in the right direction I think. You know, it's tough to be in the quarters of Queen's, and there is tough matches coming up. I think that will be the real test. You know, I can sort of gauge my game a lot better after tomorrow or the day after that, you know, but I'm happy with how I'm playing.

Q. If it is Andy, if he manages to turn around, what would it be like to play him on British soil tomorrow? Secondly, what about the football? Has there been a lot of banter on the WhatsApp group about the match tomorrow night?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, if we play tomorrow, it would be great. Yeah, to play Andy here would be an amazing atmosphere, be great. You know, I have to be professional about it and go about my business as whoever I play.

Regarding the football, I think once the match comes along, there will be plenty of messages flying about, but we have been pretty busy, everybody this week, I would say, you know, on the nights we have been watching the football. And we haven't had too much chat about the Scotland/England match, but I think I'd say they are keeping it pretty low profile.

Q. One of the storylines ahead of Wimbledon is Roger playing at 39, can he still compete for the major titles and stuff. You have become fairly close with him as sort of a practice partner and friend in recent years. I wonder particularly this year when you were hitting with him in the Middle East, when you're hitting with him, does it feel like you're hitting with a 39-year-old, or is he someone if you turned up without knowing his age, would you think he was a lot younger?

DANIEL EVANS: No, I mean, I don't think I'm hitting with a 39-year-old. When we were practicing, he was training just as hard as I'm sure he has been before, but I would guess he's a little more smart now with the training he does.

I think the same with Andy, he obviously has to tweak his training. So, I mean, I can't comment on how he feels, but I guess he's feeling pretty good going into the grass, his strongest tournament.

Q. Do you remember that time you went over to Switzerland with Colin Beecher, he was saying he was kind of surprised at how low-key it was in a way. It was like this little club and Federer was sweeping the clay courts himself. Was there anything that took you aback when you were over there hitting with him at his club?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, obviously he lives in a pretty quiet place. There is not much tennis around there. I think he'll openly tell you that, that there is not much tennis around where he lives.

Yeah, it was very relaxed. But, you know, we got some good work done that time, and it was enjoyable mostly, you know.

Q. When you play Roger or train with Roger, is there a myth, the aura that surrounds him, the fact that he has won so many Grand Slam titles, or is there humbleness with his character?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, to give him probably the biggest compliment would be it doesn't feel that way when you sit down and chat to him. When we're practicing, you know, he's very relaxed with chatting, talk about most things.

So, yeah, that would be my biggest compliment to him. And not just him; his team have always been cool with me. We have spoke about stuff end of practice, you know, hung out on the court, you know, talking nonsense really, but like a normal practice partner.

So that made it a lot easier for me to turn up each day and giving the good sessions. I never felt nervous, because they were easy to be around, yeah.