US OPEN

September 5, 2021

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/D. Evans

6-3, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: If you could, just your thoughts on the match today.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I felt Daniil was very good. I think he showed why he has his ranking, why he's challenging in these tournaments to win them. Yeah, difficult match.

In sport, there's levels, and he was a different level to me today, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Is there anything he does that is slightly less obvious that makes him so difficult? Do you see him as a proper threat to Djokovic at this event?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, I will tell you it looks very unorthodox, but he's hitting the ball pretty big, very close to the lines, great serve. I think the serve for me is the thing I think is a bit underrated. He goes through his service games very quickly.

I think, yeah, I mean, everyone knows how well he moves. But I think his serve and how he goes from deep to up the court so quick is another very, yeah, difficult thing to see on television until you play him, yeah.

Q. Can you take a positive from what you've done since you've been here? Best run here, overcoming COVID, all that stuff.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it's just a good week. Yeah, it's a good week. It was difficult. Some difficult matches. Always not easy to lose.

But, yeah, it was a solid, solid week. Happy with how I dealt with the conditions. The whole trip in itself was difficult. Yeah, it was a good, solid week. Played my best tennis this week, which is pleasing.

Hopefully there's a bit more left for the rest of the season. And look ahead to Australia, if that happens. If it doesn't happen...

Q. You hinted at it there. You think there's some good tennis left in you this season. How much do you have left in the tank? Do you think you've got enough to push on and maybe get a top 20 ranking by the end of the season?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, I'm not so focused on the rankings. I would love to be in that bracket obviously. But taking care of the other things like the training, keep my body going again. For sure I need some rest. You know, to move in the direction I want to be moving, there's some more hard work left this year.

Indian Wells, great tournament, great points on offer. San Diego, the tour event, will be very strong and get me in some good matches before moving on to Indian Wells. I mean, I'll see how the next few days look. Nursing a bit of soreness. See how long that takes, then move on from there.

I think I'm ready to keep going this year. Probably won't bother going home, so just stay out and look forward to a strong end. Really looking forward to - I've said it before - but Davis Cup is a pretty important part of the year for me.

Q. Playing someone like him today, what does that show you in terms of what you can learn and improve?

DANIEL EVANS: You're looking at the draw hoping he's nowhere near me for the rest of my days (smiling).

Yeah, I mean, I think you just got to take it as it is. Got a good, healthy lesson out there and just move on. It's just a tough match. Some people are better than you, and that's it really.