Former British number one Dan Evans said his first Wimbledon win in four years “meant everything” as he beat compatriot Jay Clarke to reach the second round.
The 35-year-old struggled for victories before the grass-court season – a run that saw him drop out of the world top 150 and left him uncertain if he would be able to play at Wimbledon.
But, after recording some good wins at Queen’s and Eastbourne, he was handed a wildcard for his home Grand Slam and made the most of that opportunity by beating Clarke 6-1 7-5 6-2 in the first round.
Not only was that his first Wimbledon victory since 2021, but it also means he has secured a mouth-watering second-round tie against former world number one Novak Djokovic, who beat Alexandre Muller of France in the first round.
“Today meant everything,” Evans told BBC Sport.
“Yes, it was wildcard versus wildcard but that was one of my top, top wins in my career.
“Coming to these tournaments, you look ahead to grass courts and I had no wins. I don’t want to be that person asking for a wildcard when I didn’t deserve it.
“I really needed wins, I really needed to come here deserving for myself, not for the wildcards but for myself.”
His victory means a total of 10 British players are into round two across the men’s and women’s draws – only the second time that has happened this century alongside 2022.
Seven advanced on Monday – a record for in a single day in the Open era – and they were joined on Tuesday by Evans, men’s British number one Jack Draper and wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones, who was making his Wimbledon debut.
But there was disappointment for some of their compatriots on day two as former British number one Heather Watson was knocked out in the women’s draw.
She had made a strong start against 23rd seed Clara Tauson by taking the opening set but the Dane showed her quality to battle back and win 2-6 6-4 6-3.
Former British number two Jodie Burrage also went out as she was beaten by American Caty McNally 6-3 6-1, while Francesca Jones lost to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 1-6 6-3 6-1.
In the men’s draw, wildcards Johannus Monday and George Loffhagen both exited in the opening round.
Monday lost 6-4 6-4 6-2 to American 13th seed Tommy Paul while Loffhagen was beaten 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-2 by Spanish world number 52 Pedro Martinez.
