SYDNEY TENNIS CLASSIC

January 13, 2022

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

D. EVANS/M. Cressy

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Can you start by giving us some general thoughts on the win?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it was a good, tough match. He played very well and made it difficult for me. Yeah, it was a late start, so, you know, I had to bring good intensity and some energy.

Waiting around all day was, you know, difficult, waiting for an opponent to come through, so it wasn't the easiest days, but I did well at the end, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. What did you do the whole day? When you've got a match that's so late in the evening, how do you kill the time during the day?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I woke up a little later today. Went to breakfast, yeah, and then went to the gym like 1:00. Then had lunch, then come in, practiced.

But obviously, you know, I'm waiting for matches, so I'm not sure when -- you know, I have to look at the worst-case scenario and practice, give myself enough time.

Yeah, it's a long day. Yeah, it's worth it to come through and get into the semis.

Q. Nice to have two Brits in the semis, too?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it would be nice to play obviously, but yeah, we both have tough matches. You know, yeah, it's great that there is two in the semis. Hopefully we can both win.

Q. What are your thoughts about coming up against Aslan Karatsev?

DANIEL EVANS: You know, I played him in Dubai this year. He played, you know, good tennis. He's been playing tennis for around a little while now, and he's a good player. Very good ball striker, and I have to be on my game again tomorrow to try and get past him.

Q. In that time this afternoon between gym and dinner, lunch, all that, did you get to have a look at the Australian Open draw?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah. You know, it's hard to miss it, you know. Yeah, it is what it is. You know, you're in the tournament, so you're going to have a first-round opponent. I've got a job to do here first, and that's what I'm trying to focus on.

I did feel it was pretty difficult today, knowing, you know, the draw would come out. I felt a bit all over the place, watching that and having still in this tournament. It's funny. I did well to come through, and it's always nice to be in the semis regardless if there is a tournament next week or not.

Q. It's always fun to watch your matches, always fun to watch Max, as well. Is it fun to play against a guy who plays that pretty unique style on the tour these days?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, I would say it's fun -- I definitely like watching, you know, the classic serve/volley. It's hard for me to play against that, you know.

It's a good matchup for -- you know, it's difficult for me. I'm having to hit passing shots, but I think he's got a game which is, you know, very, very different, which therefore is very good in this day and age. Not a lot of people like people coming at you, and so I think he'll do pretty well in the sense of he'll shock people, coming at them, make them feel uncomfortable.

He definitely did that tonight to me, so, I mean, it's always enjoyable to play on good courts, but I didn't particularly enjoy having to come up with passing shots, chasing the ball down, but it was good to get out there and compete, yeah.

Q. You mentioned you play Aslan earlier in the year, I think, or last year now, sorry, in Dubai. I don't know how much you have thought about it even, but what have you taken away from that? I think he beat you in three sets there?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, he beat me in three sets. He played good. It was a bit quicker court than here. So, you know, I obviously have a decent plan for tomorrow. There wasn't much in it. So I've got a decent chance going in.

Q. You had very good matches in 2021. Now, how are your preparations going on? How do you look at 2022?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it's been good to, you know, to have a little bit of time off. I played good last year. Yeah, it's a new year, so you have to, you know, refocus, set targets again if that's what you do, and go after it again.

It's a long year. You know, this is just, you know, the start, so you've got to pick your tournaments wisely and give yourself the best possible chance in the weeks you do play and make sure you're fresh coming into some of the bigger tournaments.

You know, I have done that well last year, and I'm looking to do it again this year.