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Britain’s Evans upsets Goffin, but Dimitrov wins
SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Britain’s Dan Evans scored one of the
biggest wins of his career Sunday, upsetting world number 11 David Goffin at
the ATP Cup, but there were no slip ups for Bulgaria’s resurgent Grigor
Dimitrov.
Evans, egged on in Sydney by his captain and idol Tim Henman, survived a
late charge by the Belgium star, who saved five match points in the Group C
tie before succumbing 6-4, 6-4.
“It was real tough out there but my coach told me it was never going to be
easy,” said Evans, who has climbed to 42 in the world after starting last
season at 199.
“The guys on the bench were just saying ‘next point, next point’. I was
nervous as well, no doubting that, but really proud of my efforts to come
through like that.
“He’s a world class player and his quality started to show towards the
end,” added Evans, who made the final at Delray Beach last week.
It was a disappointing defeat for Belgium’s top player, who won his first
match of the season on Friday against Moldova’s Radu Albot and said he had
big ambitions for the 2020 season.
Britain claimed the tie 2-1 when Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury won the
deciding doubles after Cameron Norrie lost in two sets to Belgium’s Steve
Darcis.
Former world number three Dimitrov whipped Albot 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to
help Bulgaria clinch their second tie in a row and put them in a commanding
position in the group. He beat Evans in their opening clash on Friday.
The majority of teams at the 24-nation event have standalone skippers,
mostly leading former players such as Boris Becker and Marat Safin.
But the Bulgarians chose to bestow the honour on Dimitrov and he has
thrived in guiding his inexperienced team.
“My dad was the one who taught me how to play tennis, and when I was
chosen to be a captain, he was, like, ‘Oh, now you’re going to see what is it
to be on the other end’,” said Dimitrov, who slipped down the rankings last
year after a shoulder problem.
“And I really did and I am. But I’m enjoying it. I never thought I could
do the whole double role, but I took this on board.
“I wanted to give something back to the boys and just make sure that they
learn. That’s it. That’s all I want, to kind of give whatever I can from me
to them. So I think things are good so far.”
Dimitar Kuzmanov gave Bulgaria a winning start by overcoming Alexander
Cozbinov 6-1, 7-5 before Dimitrov returned to play doubles with Alexandar
Lazarov, falling to Albot and Cozbinov in two sets.
“I know I have to not only believe in myself now but I need to believe in
the players that are with me,” said Dimitrov.
“My only goal was, and I’m honest on that, was just to put them together,
to make sure we practise together, to make sure they learn something from
me.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/1925HRS