We can’t remember a time when British tennis was in ruder health.
Andy Murray capped off a huge year with a world number one slot, a Sports Personality of the Year award and a knighthood, but the success of the best players from the UK goes far beyond the Scot’s achievements.
Johanna Konta won the women’s singles at the Sydney International this week, while the men’s singles tournament in the same city has brought about a final appearance for Dan Evans – the first of his professional career.
Evans beat Andrey Kuznetsov in three sets, paving the way for a meeting with world number 34 Gilles Muller.
He's done it! @Evo151216 beats Andrey Kuznetsov 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach his first ever ATP final! pic.twitter.com/Cbp2wVqTEh
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 13, 2017
The 26-year-old, currently ranked 67th in the world, recorded his first ever win over a top-10 ranked player when he beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals. Thiem, who won four ATP titles in 2016, was the top seed in Sydney.
He has five challenger tour victories to his name, and will look to get off the mark on the ATP tour on Saturday ahead of the first grand slam of 2017, the Australian Open.
Evans will take on Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis in the first round in Melbourne, with the winner potentially facing number seven seed Marin Čilić in round two.
