AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2023

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

D. EVANS/F. Bagnis

6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats on the win today. How are you feeling postmatch?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, good. Obviously very hot day. Yeah, it was just nice to get finished and played good today, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Why don't you wear a hat?

DANIEL EVANS: I just never have. Yeah. It doesn't... Yeah, for the heat or for the sun?

Yeah, the sun, it wouldn't matter if I had a hat on or anything. It was just right in -- and I just never -- I'm pretty good in the heat, doesn't bother me. I have just never worn a hat and I have never liked wearing one. Doesn't feel comfortable.

Q. Everyone else seems to be wearing hats, just for protection, if anything.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, doesn't feel comfortable. Big ears, I guess (smiling).

Q. What do you do with the sun? Do you change your ball toss?

DANIEL EVANS: It was just in such a bad position today. I was obviously very unlucky. I was first, and that's where the sun was, and it was super bright. Yeah, I was messing around with the ball toss.

Yeah, I mean, that's probably the reason I lost the second set, I guess, yeah.

Q. You stayed quite calm at that moment.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I was fine. You know, there is no point in getting irate when it was so hot as well. It would make things a lot worse. I was pretty confident that he would give me a chance.

I thought he played very well, and, you know, served extremely well. I don't know how many aces or what his points were, but it felt like he served well.

Q. Talk us through what you did in the break.

DANIEL EVANS: I had a bit of food. I showered, obviously. Had a bit of food. Stretched. Yeah, stretched out.

Then I had a lie down. I mean, I actually watched Roy Keane on that Tiernan show. It was quite a good 37 minutes, if you really want to know what I did (smiling).

And then, yeah, stretched again and got ready to go. I mean, it's strange because I never even knew about the rule, to be honest. I come back from the toilet, and then the guy said, you know, You're going in.

I never knew about the rule. I never thought about it. I just knew it was hot. Once the wind stopped it was horrible, yeah.

Q. Were you happy, though? How did you feel when they told you? Were you relieved?

DANIEL EVANS: Not really. I had won the third. I felt like he was struggling. He was going to the towel a lot at the back of the court a lot. And then sort of it was quite long, and then I had to start again. I didn't feel great going back out. But then I actually played very well when I went back out.

Q. You were getting quite fired up with his box when you were at his end. I wondered whether that was just he was having a good moment and you were like a break down maybe and you were just trying to fire yourself up as much as anything else?

DANIEL EVANS: No, I just thought there was no need for, if it was his friend, it wasn't his coach or whatnot, I mean, it's pretty obvious what was happening. I was throwing the ball like a club player to the side and then missing the ball. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was nothing really. Just one of those things.

Yeah, but I did pretty well today to come out the other side, yeah.

Q. Do you use those moments like to sort of refocus yourself? Andy sometimes talks about focusing on one specific person in the crowd to fire him up and encourage him.

DANIEL EVANS: No, I just thought it was a bit -- it was a nice match. It was pretty respectful. I just thought it was pretty stupid from the guy, yeah, and a bit -- there was no real need to do it to me. The match was going along good for his friend or whatnot. Yeah, it was fine.

Q. What was he actually saying?

DANIEL EVANS: I don't know. "Come on." It was just a wrong time.

Q. What you watched, was that something you wanted to watch or just happened to download? How did it come about?

DANIEL EVANS: I look on YouTube. I'm looking on YouTube and stuff. I had wanted to watch it. I had seen clips of it. I think, yeah, it was -- I have not finished it, so yeah.

Q. Did it fire you up? Did you want to...

DANIEL EVANS: No, no.

Q. You were on Channel 9 on the big screen during Andy's match.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I ended up seeing it, yeah. I mean, it was amazing end to the match. Doesn't surprise me, another mental match with him, I'm sure.

Yeah, he did obviously great to come through. Yeah, the last tiebreak, the level of tennis was good, unbelievable from both of them. It was actually -- I was reacting to Berrettini's backhand done the line, clean winner. Yeah, phenomenal shot.

Q. What do you make of the whole thing, Andy to be able to do that, given everything?

DANIEL EVANS: I think the amazing thing is he didn't cramp. He obviously had troubles with the cramping and I think he will be happy that he did his preseason and he got everything right. I mean, he always obviously does, leaves no stone unturned.

The thing with the cramping, obviously he spoke a bit about the nutrition and then the work, so he obviously addressed that, and no bigger test than playing Berrettini.

I mean, it was air conned, I guess, indoors, but the little gems those guys get, yeah, he doesn't have the sunburn I've got tonight (smiling).

Q. Does it amaze you how competitive he is? Tennis, golf?

DANIEL EVANS: Not really. Yeah, he's weirdly competitive, and some of the things he comes out with would, you know -- but yeah, I mean, you guys know him. He's pretty negative, and when he says he was playing well, I knew he'd obviously practiced well the last week, because, you know, he'll message me, messing around, saying, Are you playing any good? And I'll ask him.

He messaged back last week saying, Yeah, some good work. Obviously he feels he's hitting the ball well if he gives himself a compliment. He obviously felt pretty good going into today, and the match obviously showed.

Q. In that moment, the way Andy comes back, is that something inside you, born inside you? Can you develop that?

DANIEL EVANS: I think he's had so many moments on that court, but then he'll, I imagine, I'm not him, he would be having thoughts, you know, another one's going to pass me by, another tough moment. You know, he'd obviously not been getting out of those moments.

That will give him massive, massive confidence, I imagine. Mostly the level of tennis he played, I mean, Berrettini is one of the best players in the world.

Q. Quite decent for all the Brits in the second round?

DANIEL EVANS: We aren't going to start this again, are we? It's not that decent. Two Brits in quallies and none in the top 300 or whatever.

Q. So what's a good figure?

DANIEL EVANS: Come on. I've got to get to Davis Cup. Come on. Get thrown out of the team before I have agreed to go (smiling).

Q. Do you know Jeremy at all? I don't know if he still lives in London?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I know him pretty, to say hello to. I think he still does, yeah. Obviously had a tough time with injury, but I played him a few times and it's been a tough match actually. I'm not sure what the weather is like but hopefully it's a bit cooler.

Q. Have you practiced with him at Roehampton? I know he does pop in there.

DANIEL EVANS: When he's allowed, yeah. I think there is a few issues for him being allowed to come in and not -- but no, I'm never in Roehampton. But, yeah, we have played a big game when he's on, and they are all tough matches.

Yeah, three out of five, physical, anything can happen like we have seen. It would be a good match.