Nottingham Open: Dan Evans beats British teenager Henry Searle

Updated 1 hour ago

Briton Dan Evans reached the third round of the Nottingham Open with a thumping victory over fellow teenager Henry Searle.

Second seed Evans was well matched by the 18-year-old and, after his 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory, declared that the reigning Wimbledon junior champion would be “a hell of a player”.

Searle, the current world number 630, is yet to make his debut at the ATP Tour level but highlighted his potential during a close competition.

“He’s obviously very good,” Evans said.

“I'm just happy to get out of it to be honest. It's not the draw I wanted to see when I saw I was next to his name.”

Neither player managed to break serve in the first set, which Evans sealed with an ace at the end of a tense tiebreak.

The British number three had a triple break point in Searle's first service game in the second, but the teenager responded brilliantly to save the hold.

Searle then used his momentum to secure the first break of the match and lead 3-2 after Evans fired a drop shot into the net.

But Evans saved another break point at 4-3, then got back to 30 in the next game by returning two overhead smashes before Searle flew into the net.

Qualifier Searle faded in the second set tie-break with Evans at one point leading 6-3 before crossing the finish line.

“It’s thanks to him, he played very well,” added Evans. “He’s going to be a hell of a player.”

Evans has now won three of his four matches on grass this summer as he prepares for Wimbledon which begins on July 1.

British number one Katie Boulter will take to the field later on Wednesday and will face Canadian Rebecca Marino.

Fellow Briton Heather Watson will face Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova.

At the Stuttgart Open, British number two Jack Draper faces American Marcos Giron.