Dan Evans cracks cheeky Carlos Alcaraz joke forward of thrilling US Open conflict

Dan Evans will likely be considering that Carlos Alcaraz is human and “does exactly the same as what all of us do in the morning” when he takes on the world No 1 on the US Open on Saturday. The British No 2 is aware of the defending champion shouldn’t be good after enjoying golf with the Spaniard throughout Wimbledon.

“His strength as a golfer was his coach,” Evans laughed. Getting a outcome off the Wimbledon winner in New York will likely be a a lot greater shock on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. But Evans beat Novak Djokovic on clay when the Serbian celebrity  was high of the world rankings at Monte Carlo in 2021.

And the world No 28 will take the identical aggressive perspective into dealing with the 20-year-old tremendous child – the youngest male high seed on the US Open. “When I play on the tour, I don’t think about what ranking people are,” mentioned Evans.

“I genuinely don’t. They’re normal people. To put it frankly they do exactly the same as what all of us do in the morning when they get out of bed. They’re very good at the sport but they still get nervous, they deal with it better than us. That’s what’s helped me when I’ve played better players.

“Alcaraz is an unbelievable player but what’s the point of me going out there and thinking he’s the No 1 in the world, you’ve no right to beat him. What is important is realising they’re very good at what they do, but they’re still human, they are still nervous, they just deal with it a bit better on occasions.

“I won’t be thinking when I’m out there: ‘He’s No.1  in the world, I can’t win this match’. I have to go out and hope I can put my game on the court and get myself into a good position. He will obviously be the overwhelming favourite.

“It’s a good opportunity to play a very good tennis player on a big stage. That is why you play tennis. I am really looking forward to it and will play aggressively. There’s been a few upsets on that court before.”

Alcaraz has gained their two tennis matches in straight units, together with within the semi-finals at Barcelona in April. But the final time the 2 performed was on the fairways of Royal Wimbledon when Alcaraz and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero requested to hitch Evans and Jonny O’Mara.

“We played eight holes and they played well,” mentioned four-handicapper Evans. “Ferrero is better. He has spent his retirement wisely that is for sure. We definitely can’t half on Saturday night like we did then so we will see.

“His strength as a golfer was his coach – he talked him through the match pretty much. Just like on the tennis court. Carlos hits it a long way. He hits his long irons pretty good.”

Alcaraz laughed. “Of course, his golf is much better than mine, that’s for sure. But we could play a little bit before Wimbledon. We had such a great time at the course.”

While Aston Villa shirts have been noticed within the stands right here in help of Evans, Alcaraz is a Real Madrid supporter – and already an enormous fan of Jude Bellingham.

“He’s such a great, talented player, one of the best in the world,” mentioned the Spaniard. “I’m sure that he’s going to be the best player in the world in that position. I’m just really, really happy to have him in the team. I talk a little bit with him. He’s such a great person, as well. He’s a complete guy.”