THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2021

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

D. EVANS/D. Lajovic

6-3, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That's your third time in the third round. You must be pretty pleased with the two performances you put in so far. Not dropped a set. Looking pretty confident.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I'm happy to be through to the third round. Yeah, it was a tough match. As you said, it was good to get it done in three straights. Could have turned out a little difficult in the end of that match. Good to come through. Again, in straights is an extra bonus. I can take a day off tomorrow and get ready for Friday.

Q. You spoke of nerves before you went out. How much does it mean to you to be on No. 1 Court with a home crowd at Wimbledon?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it's a great court. I played a good match on there before the last time I played here, so it was nice to be back out there. Amazing crowd. Really good atmosphere. Hopefully I played some good tennis that they enjoyed it.

Yeah, delighted I was on Court 1 when I saw the schedule.

Q. We've been talking a bit about slippery courts the last 24 hours. You had a nasty tumble in the third game. Do you have any thoughts on the subject? Just one of those things of grass court tennis or different this year?

DANIEL EVANS: No, I mean, I think you summed it up. It's grass court tennis.

At the start of the tournament, the courts are a little lush. The playing surface and inside the lines I think are perfectly fine, not slippy. A little bit outside the court can be a bit lush, but that's part of grass court tennis. No one likes to see anyone fall over, but if you are wrong-footing people, that's sort of a skill to move on the grass.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think they're any slippier than they would be at this point I'm saying in a normal year. We just missed a year last year. So, yeah, I mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with the courts. I think Court 1 especially played great. I was okay. A little slip out wide, but that's normal.

Q. Your confidence levels must be good at the moment.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I mean, I don't think I played particularly amazing tennis today, but I got through the match with decent concentration. I found my tennis when I needed to the longer the match went on.

I knew what I had to do today, and that was get myself through the match however I played, give myself another good chance in the third round. It's not all about playing perfect tennis all the time. I didn't serve the game out great at 5-2, but I bounced back at 5-4 after having match points in the game before that. So I was happy with that part today. That gives you confidence, yeah.

Q. If you play Sebastian Korda who is leading at the moment, how do you view that contest? He's in pretty good form.

DANIEL EVANS: No, I think it's another difficult match. Everything you expect in a third round. He's a great talent. He's a great player already. His game suits up well to the grass.

But it's third round of Wimbledon. There's a lot of added pressure which comes with that. He's not been in that position before. There's a lot of different variables. I know the guys pretty well, his coach and his dad. I've obviously practiced a bit in Bradenton and they were there.

It will be a difficult match. He has sound people around him, so he'll be prepared if he wins today. I'll obviously do my best to prepare well and make a game plan.

Q. You haven't dropped a set yet. Can you feel momentum growing?

DANIEL EVANS: I think I've done a great job of getting through, yeah. As I said, I've not played my best tennis just yet, so hopefully that's coming. I'm working hard. I'm trying to focus hard on finding it. Another day on the practice courts tomorrow, get a bit more feel. Hopefully in the third round I play a bit cleaner out there, serve a little better.

Match by match to get a bit better would be good. I'm competing hard and staying focused, which is part of, a big part of the battle really out there is to stay in the match, especially three-out-of-five sets. There's massive momentum changes in the match. It's about keeping calm and concentrated in the moment really.

Q. The courts seem a little bit slower than usual. Does that play into your hands, work against you?

DANIEL EVANS: I found the courts pretty good, to be honest. I've not perfectly noticed they're any slower than normal. It's been cold the last two days. That might be why it seems slower. But I've been perfectly happy with the speed with them. I just sometimes would like them a bit slower, but they're a good speed. Hopefully I can come in a bit more against Korda, if he gets through, and play a bit more up the court.

Q. It was not much of a birthday present for Dusan. Did you wish him happy birthday after the match?

DANIEL EVANS: I didn't know it was his birthday. I would obviously if I knew. I would have said happy birthday. Can have a few drinks tonight now (smiling).