It's not too often you'll see much coverage of qualifiers for grand slam tennis but when someone pulls off the kind of shot Dan Evans managed today ahead of the Australian Open.
For as long as anyone can remember British tennis has been Andy Murray. Oh sure the days of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski aren't that long ago but with each passing Murray achievement their 'achievements' looked ever more pathetic.
The Scot has had two injury ravaged years though and now finds himself as the fifth highest ranked British player, or the 230th ranked in the world. His 'protected ranking' allows him to enter next week's Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, without needing to qualify.
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Above Murray in the British rankings is Dan Evans, on the comeback trail after a year out through a drugs ban, and the Englishman is just one match from qualifying after beating Jurij Rodionov. During the match Evans hit an incredible winner that we can't get our heads round:
Evans was banned for a year until April last year for taking cocaine and has had to rise back through the rankings, after the ban came during the best period of his career and reaching a ranking of 41 in the world.
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He won a Challenger series tournament in Vancouver back in August but if he were to qualify for the Australian Open it would be his first Grand Slam event since he tested positive in 2017.
Murray's comeback from his hip injury has been difficult and he has been drawn to face 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round in Australia.
Current British number one Kyle Edmund has also been handed a tricky draw with former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych his first round opponent. Edmund had an incredible run to the semi final last year.
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It'll be a huge lift to the sport in Britain if Evans can join them in the main draw.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Tennis news, Australian Open, Andy Murray
