CITI OPEN

August 4, 2021

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

B. NAKASHIMA/D. Evans

7-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First match back since COVID. How are you feeling? How did you feel physically out there today?

DANIEL EVANS: I felt pretty good. Obviously just felt a bit -- yeah, it was very strange to be back playing. Probably a week, two weeks a little too early. But I decided to come out to practice and get out here to get used to the conditions.

I think that match will do me pretty good. Yeah, I mean, it was difficult to know how I'd feel. It's been difficult to get back into some sort of shape. I had pretty bad symptoms. I was sort of out of the game, I guess, for 20 days sort of thing, 14 to 20 days. Not the best thing in the world, but that's what it is.

Yeah, I'm just pretty happy to be out here and preparing for the Open.

Q. What were your symptoms like? How did you find out you tested positive? What were your feelings about the Olympics?

DANIEL EVANS: So I didn't hear the last bit of your question.

Q. I wanted to ask about testing positive for COVID, what that rough spot was like for you, having to pull out of the Olympics. I don't think we've seen you since then.

DANIEL EVANS: No, I mean, theoretically I was able to go to the Olympics, but just wasn't the best preparation. I had to be pretty selfish in the end and also give someone else the chance to go and play. Yeah, I mean, it was difficult.

It was a no-brainer really. I was pretty sick. I knew I wasn't ready in any way to take a long-haul flight, five days' practice, get going in singles or doubles. Like today was a push. It wouldn't have been right.

I had the typical symptoms, yeah, aching bones, all that stuff. It was a rough five, six days when I had the symptoms. Then obviously you've got to isolate. Then I give myself a bit of time to come round. It wouldn't have been right to just jump straight back out. Yeah, that's what I did. I took it pretty slow.

Yeah, now it's about working my way back into match shape and strength and getting my game where it needs to be. I think if you watched the match, wasn't in great shape. It was very up and down. Some good things. But you can't expect to come out and try and win those matches without playing good tennis.

It was just real difficult. Let's move on and get ready for next week.

Q. I've been asking players about their efforts to get vaccinated which can be tricky to fit into the schedule. I'm guessing you hadn't been able to be vaccinated. Will you do it in the future?

DANIEL EVANS: No, no, the vaccination program in England is a little different. I had been vaccinated, one shot. I was waiting to take the second of the Pfizer. I obviously got it. After Wimbledon I was supposed to take my second shot. It had been the weeks which I needed to have to then take a second shot. Then I had it. Now I need to wait 30 days until I can take a second shot.

I'm fully for being vaccinated. I will be making the best effort I can to get vaccinated. But I also have to go back to England for it to qualify. I can't take one in England and one in America because it doesn't qualify for the government program, if that makes sense. To not have to quarantine, my understanding is both have to be done in the UK on the NHS program, is my understanding. I could be totally wrong.

Q. Today was a tight first set, lopsided second. What do you think about his level, the physicality he plays with?

DANIEL EVANS: No, he's a good tennis player. I think, yeah, he's very good. He's had a hell of a two weeks. Make that three now. He's won two matches here. He's very confident.

Yeah, I mean, we'll see a lot more of him in the next few weeks and see how he goes. But I think he's got obviously a very big future. He seems very calm and levelheaded, which is a good thing. Yeah, he played good today. He put me away pretty convincingly in the end.

He's going to be a good player. But we'll see what happens.

Q. Working with the racquet specialists here, what is it like interacting with them, talking to them about how you want the racquets at the tournament?

DANIEL EVANS: Say that again. Sorry.

Q. There are racquet technicians at the tournament that help you with tensioning the racquet. What is it like working with them and traveling with them on the tour?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it's tough. You have to get your racquet tension right, otherwise it's a difficult, difficult day. But at most tournaments they're very good, very helpful, yeah.