Dan Evans dumped out of Wimbledon by Novak Djokovic as his flawless record is broken
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
DAN EVANS lost his 100 per cent record against Novak Djokovic and left Wimbledon on the end of a final-set hammering.
And the seven-time champion maintained his record of only ever losing to one Brit in a Grand Slam.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
Novak Djokovic celebrates his ruthless victory
Credit: PA
3
Dan Evans was outclassed on Centre Court
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
On the Centre Court where Andy Murray memorably ended 77 years of hurt for British men by beating Djokovic back in 2013, Evans could not get close to the super Serb.
Evans had won their only previous meeting, on the clay of Monte Carlo in 2021.
Despite Evans dropping to world No154 in the rankings, Djokovic was expecting a tough afternoon on the grass surface that gives the Brit's slice and unpredictable style extra bite.
But the 24-time Grand Slam singles winner made light work of setting the latest record in his incredible career.
READ MORE WIMBLEDON
Wimbledon 2025 Djokovic BEATS Evans, Draper takes on Cilic, Sinner and Shelton feature
Djokovic, 38, is unlikely to break the tie with Roger Federer for most Wimbledon titles - seven - given his age and the strength of the competition.
But he will now pass Federer for appearances in the third round in SW19. His next match on Saturday will be his 19th at that stage, more than any other male player.
Evans has never been further than that at his home Slam and he won't be doing it this year.
The popular Brummie had joked about banning dad David from coming to the match after he decided to stick with a golfing holiday in Wales rather than watch his son's first-round win.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
But Evans snr did make the trip to London to watch what may turn out to be last time his boy plays a big name on the most famous court in tennis.
Evans fought hard in the first set. But even cats have only nine lives, and after saving nine break points, the Brit lost the 10th and Djokovic served it out.
Novak Djokovic gatecrashes Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference and awkwardly criticises her
Evans won the opening game of the second set but lost the next five as Djokovic started to really find his groove.
The former British No1 simply could not win enough free points on his own serve, or stop Djokovic doing that with his.
It was sad for the crowd to see such a great servant to the British game fall to a 'bagel' final set.
Djokovic showed no mercy, saving two break points in what turned out to be the final game.
But Evans is not the first player, British or otherwise, to struggle to live with the Serb.
Next up, Djokovic will face compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic.
The 25-year-old from Belgrade defeated Dutchman Jesper de Jong in four sets to reach the third round.
3
Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
14 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Digested week: Wimbledon joy and the canny PR of the Dalai Lama
As someone who enjoys the women's tennis at Wimbledon, so to speak, the tournament's opening days are an annual joy and this week has been electric. Emma Raducanu leads the rise in British women powering up the world rankings, which makes the era of women's tennis I grew up in – I have a lot of time for Jo Durie, but those were hard years – seem like the 19th century. Today, after two stunning opening-round matches, Raducanu will meet Aryna Sabalenka, the mighty Belarusian world number one, which means tomorrow I will be on court one (in the park) knocking imaginary clay dust from my shoes and pretending to be in the final. If the tennis is sublime, the crowd so far has been slightly under par – although it's early days. Last year, the title of Wimbledon best dressed went for my money to Greta Gerwig, in a tan suit the provenance of which I still can't track down, as well as Zendaya in Ralph Lauren and Julia Roberts in Gucci. This week in the royal box and around the grounds we've had Cate Blanchett, who is welcome in any setting, Olivia Rodrigo and Russell Crowe, who combed his hair and dug out a tie for Centre Court. (Esquire ran a story about the £65,000 Rolex he was wearing, which if it was intended to set us against him, won't work – I won't hear a word against Rusty.) There were also, as usual, a high turn out of what my teenage tennis partner and I used to refer to nastily as Midweek Ladies, a crowd who, off-court, wear floral, ankle length dresses in pale shades and on court, are always one double fault away from losing their nerve and reverting to an underhand serve. Everyone should watch My Mom Jayne, the documentary about Jayne Mansfield made by her daughter Mariska Hargitay, released this week on HBO Max and a jaw-dropper of revelations and sadness. You may know Hargitay from her role as Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU – I didn't even know she was Mansfield's daughter – and she was three years old in 1967 when her 34-year-old mother was killed in a car crash outside New Orleans. The film is heartbreaking, not least because Hargitay, who has no memories of her mother, was in the car with her siblings when it crashed. All three children survived and were raised by their father, but as Hargitay reports, she grew up feeling vaguely ashamed of her mother, a Hollywood sex bomb who spoke in a breathy voice that a generation later fell out of usage. As Hargitary digs into the history of the mother she never knew, she discovers Mansfield was an accomplished pianist and violinist, a brilliant, ambitious woman trapped by the only persona Hollywood allowed her – until now. Finally, someone has greeted the release of a new Brad Pitt movie not with praise-be gratitude for America's ageing sweetheart, but by looking at Pitt's success in shrugging off an allegation of domestic abuse. While in most of the entertainment press, Pitt's new film is treated to the customary chuckling puff piece, New York magazine runs the headline Brad Pitt is Fooling You and proceeds to get into it: the actor's image preservation, the crisis management PR he retains (former client: Johnny Depp) and the details of Angelina Jolie's allegation that he assaulted her and one of their children on a private plane. As the piece concludes, nobody cares. There's been a vibe shift since #MeToo, which let's not forget, Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, aligned itself with by co-producing the movie adaptation of She Said, about the exposing of Harvey Weinstein – a sterling piece of allyship from America's most sensitive male feminist, or something else entirely. Either way, nothing sticks. In the last five years, the worst coverage Pitt has had is for Bullet Train. There was a story in the Sun mid-week about Pitt's ex, Jennifer Anniston, or rather, about a 43-year-old man from Southampton who believed himself to be in a Facebook relationship with the Hollywood star, who had reached out to him asking for a loan. That might have been your first clue, Paul, that something about this – hard to put your finger on what exactly – didn't smell right. It wasn't the first time the unfortunate victim had been targeted over social media by scam accounts claiming to be Hollywood stars. But when 'Jennifer Anniston' sent him a copy of her driving license, along with the message 'I love you', it was enough to clinch things and convince the hapless Facebook user he was at the start of a beautiful relationship. As requested, he sent the former Friends star the £200 of Apple gift cards she was asking for and never heard from her again. Oh, to have the confidence of the Dalai Lama that we'll all get a second go-around at this. Ahead of his 90th birthday this weekend, the Tibetan spiritual leader discussed arrangements for his successor, by which, per Buddhist beliefs, he means the body into which he will be reincarnated. This is as much a political as a spiritual consideration and in his address, the Dalai Lama pushed back against the Chinese government's insistence on preapproving the reincarnation, remaining firm that when the time comes, he'll be reincarnated in line with Tibetan tradition and with no interference from Beijing. He has also dangled some spoilers, suggesting, tantalisingly, that the new Dalai Lama may not be a baby, as he was, and – in what would represent a reboot more shocking than the new Dr Who and Ghostbusters combined – may not even be male. Which goes to show that even spiritual leaders these days have a canny knack for PR.
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Wimbledon star wears black ribbon in tribute to Diogo Jota after Liverpool star's tragic death - as club relaxes strict 148-year dress code to allow players to pay their respects
Wimbledon star Francisco Cabral has stepped onto court sporting a black ribbon on his shirt sleeve in tribute to his compatriot Diogo Jota in the wake of the Liverpool star's tragic death on Thursday morning. The Portugual international was driving through Zamora in northern Spain with his brother Andre Silva in a bid to catch a ferry that would take him back to England to link up with his side ahead of pre-season. The 28-year-old's death has plunged both his home country and his adopted one into mourning, with Premier League fans travelling to Anfield to pay tribute to the forward. In SW19, the All England Club announced that they would relax their stringent all-white rules for players on-court to allow those who wished to sport armbands or tributes to do so. Cabral heard of Jota's death as he was making his way into Wimbledon ahead of his doubles clash with Jamie Murray and Rajeev Ram, and told Mail Sport that although he didn't know the player personally, he knew through a mutual friend that he was a 'great guy'. 'Very, very sad news, not only in the sports world but in Portugal overall, because he's such an idol, such an icon, such a good person,' Cabral said on Thursday. 'I got the news when I was driving to Wimbledon. I just wish all the best for his family. I know they have good people around them so I hope they can get through it. 'I know what he's been through, what he conquered through his career and through his life. So he's just very inspiring for me.' Doubles world No40 Cabral and his partner Lucas Miedler are facing off with Petr Nouza and Patrik Riki on Court No5 for a spot in the third round of the men's doubles. Another doubles player, Liverpool superfan Neal Skupski, also suggested that he might sport an armband for his mixed clash alongside US star Desirae Krawczyk, which also takes place on Friday. The British star suffered a double heartbreak on Thursday as he learned that his grandmother had also passed away after he and partner Joe Salisbury defeated Joshua Paris and Charles Broom. 'It's been a tough day,' said Skupski. 'I found out this morning that Jota had passed away and then I just found out my nan had passed today as well, so it's been a very tough day.' Skupski had brought a black armband with him, but opted not to wear it as he was aware that his grandmother was unwell. He did however hint that 'in the coming days', he might consider doing so.
STV News
23 minutes ago
- STV News
Liverpool postpone pre-season return following death of forward Diogo Jota
Liverpool have cancelled the phased return of players for pre-season training as they continue to mourn the death of forward Diogo Jota. The first group of Arne Slot's squad were scheduled to attend the club's AXA training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests after their summer break. However, the PA news agency understands that has been postponed as the club deals with the aftermath of the shocking tragedy which saw 28-year-old Jota and his brother Andre Silva killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the country had lost 'one of its heroes'. 'We feel the family's pain and, in this tragedy, we question life in general,' he said in a video released by the Portuguese Football Federation. 'We have created a family in the national team that goes far beyond football and Diogo is an important part of that – on and off the field. 'Portugal will miss one of its heroes.' Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to 'stand together and be there for one another'. 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. 'We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.' Jota's team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief'. 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,' he added. 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. Andy Robertson, who attended Jota's wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: 'I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.' 'Heartbroken' former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves' Molineux Stadium, where he spent three years before his move to Liverpool. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
