Dan Evans defeated David Goffin to follow up his win against Novak Djokovic and reach the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday.The world No. 33 edged the 11th seed 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in a tough quarter-final battle at the ATP Masters 1000 event. The 30-year-old had stunned world No.1 Djokovic 6-4, 7-5 in the third round on Thursday.
Goffin won four straight games to steal the first set after Evans had led 5-3, before the Brit responded by breaking twice to take the second set.
In the third set, Evans crucially saved three break points from 0-40 at 1-1 and four more at 4-4. He then converted a first match point with the Belgian serving at 4-5, 30-40 to seal another remarkable victory.
“Just to come back today and back it up was probably the best thing about it,” Evans told Prime Video.
“Probably wasn’t my best display of my game. I felt I got dragged into his game quite a bit and (played) a bit far back.
“I know Tim (Henman) is in there now. He’ll probably be telling everybody in the studio I should be serve-volleying, chipping. I knew I was getting far back so it was good to come through in the end.
“I find the clay a bit easier on the body. You know, not as sore the day after. It’s just mentally, you’ve gotta go back again, I felt I was wavering a bit in the first set today.
“You’ve gotta keep going all the way through. I thought I did a good job in the third to keep going point after point and hang in some games I was probably a little lucky to come through.”(Photo credit Ray Giubilo)
