Cameron Norrie won out a battle of the Brits in the first round of the Australian Open to knock out British No1 Dan Evans for his first win at the event.
Norrie had crashed out in the first round of the past two editions in Melbourne, but proved the stronger and more consistent of the pair from the outset for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Both men had gone into the main draw in good form, Norrie having reached the semi-finals of his main warm-up tournament, the Delray Open, while Evans had picked up his first ATP Tour title at the Murray River Open on Sunday in Melbourne.
But rather than help him, the preceding tournament appeared to leave the No30 seed looking jaded and struggling to find his best form on court.
Evans was in constant dialogue with himself throughout the contest in a bid to lift his energy levels and game while Norrie, who had grown up the other side of the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, went about his game quietly.
Afterwards, Evans said: “I wasn’t very energetic, I started very slowly. I prepared as well as I could but could feel myself talking a lot and it was tough to get out of. I was tired mentally so I did a good job to hang in the match.
"It’s bitter sweet. I want to do well in the Grand Slams and, due respect to that tournament [the Murray River Open], no one’s going to remember I won that in three weeks’ time. But I’ve had worse so I'll just move on."
Norrie got an early break in a relatively straightforward first set win but was let down by a series of first serves at 5-4 in the second, allowing Evans to level the scores.
Norrie appeared to be in the ascendancy as he raced into a two sets to one lead only to be immediately broken in his opening service game and find himself 3-0 down and with the contest heading towards a deciding set.
Evans will be left to rue the missed opportunities with a set point but Norrie piled on the pressure, Evans capitulated and Norrie sealed the win.
And Norrie said: “It’s never easy having to play the only other Brit in the draw and he’s a good friend of mine. I was very nervous before the match.
“He was a little fatigued coming off the back of last week, and I was ready for a five-set battle. From both of us, I thought the level was going to be better.”
