Paris | Draper and Evans secure opening round wins

On the second day of the Rolex Paris Masters being played in the French capital, Jack Draper and Dan Evans produced some excellent tennis to progress into the second round of the final Masters tournament of the season.

Draper successfully negotiated his way past Frenchman Arthur Rinderknecht as well as the partisan crowd who did their best for their countryman but not to the levels which Andy Murray suffered the previous day, a major factor in his loss.

Ranked 45 in word terms, three places behind his opponent, Draper, on his debut at the Paris Masters, showed why he is one of Britain’s top prospects with his aggressive play to dominate Rinderknecht throughout the 93-minute encounter and emerge a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victor in Bercy.

He maintained his focus and concentration to maintain a high standard of tennis, earning his first break in the sixth game of the opening set and his second midway through set two; and, after saving two break points against him in the 10th game, completed the win on his second match point.

The 20-year-old will play Frances Tiafoe next, the America 16th seed, who dispatched the Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-4 on Monday to reach the second round.

Dan Evans got through in three

Earlier in the day 32-year-old Dan Evans had progressed into round two with his first win at the Paris Masters where he will face the fifth seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas who has yet to open his account in Paris.

To progress, Evans had to battle his way past American Brandon Nakashima over two -hours and 9-minutes before securing a 6-3 3-6 6-4 victory.

Two breaks in the first set helped the British No.2, ranked 27, clinch the opener, and though Nakashima responded in kind in the second breaking the Brit in the third and ninth games, it was the Brummie who edged ahead after a break in the fifth game.

Evans had two match points on Nakashima’s serve but was successfully pushed back by the 21-year-old American, ranked 50, but was unable to prevent him claiming the match a game later and progress into the next round.

Both Draper and Evans join compatriot Cameron Norrie in round two after the British No.1, seeded 12, cleared his first hurdle on Monday.

Other latest results
Round One

Hubert Hurkacz (10) bt Adrian Mannarino (WC) (FRA) 7-6(5) 6-4
Alex de Minaur (AUS) bt Sebastian Korda (USA) 6-4 4-6 6-4
Corentin Moutet (Q) (FRA) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 3-6 6-3 6-4
Pablo Carreno Busta (14) (ESP) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-3 6-3
Tommy Paul (USA) bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-4 6-4