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Dan Evans Announces Failed Drugs Test

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Dan Evans (zimbio.com)

British player Dan Evans has revelled he has failed a drugs test after testing positive for cocaine in April this year.

 

The world No.50 confirmed his positive test on Friday afternoon after inviting the media to a last-minute press conference held at a hotel located near the Queen’s Club. The Brit pulled out of playing this week’s tournament after sustaining a calf injury during the Surbiton Challenger a couple weeks ago. Addressing the media, Evans confirmed that he was notified of the positive result ‘a few days ago.’

“I made a mistake and I must face up to it.” Evans said in a statement. “I do not condone for one second to anyone that this was acceptable behaviour. I have let a lot of people down – my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and my fans.”

During the brief statement, the Brit insisted that he did not consume the drug for any reason related to tennis.

“It is really important that you know this was taken out of competition and the context completely unrelated to tennis.” He insisted.

Evans’ announcement comes during a season where he achieved a ranking best of 41st in the world. At the start of the year he reached the final of the Sydney International, before losing to Gilles Muller. More recently, he suffered a poor clay-court season after winning only two matches in five tournaments.

In a statement released by the sports anti-doping program, Evans provided the sample on April 24th during the Barcelona Open. He has now been provisionally suspended from the sport until a full investigation is conducted.

“As positive tests for Non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory Provisional Suspension, Mr Evans will be provisionally suspended with effect from 26 June, under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2017 TADP, pending determination of the case.” The ITF stated.

Evans has declined to answer questions from the media regarding the matter.

How long could Evans be banned for?

It is currently unknown as to how the ITF will punish Evans. Under current guidelines, the maximum sentence he could get is a four-year ban. This is what little-known Spanish player Jose-Manuel Roman-Gomez received in 2015 after testing positive for cocaine. Evans has, however accepted the findings and admitted responsibility, which may work in his favour. In 2008 Martin Hingis received a two-year ban for consumption of the substance. Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet  has his cocaine penalty overturned. The successfully Frenchman argued that he inadvertently digested the substance after kissing a girl in a nightclub.

Full statement

This is a very difficult day for me and I wanted to come here in person and tell you face to face I was notified a few days ago that I failed a drugs test in April, where I tested positive for cocaine.
 
It is really important that you know this was taken out of competition and the context completely unrelated to tennis. I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I do not condone for one second to anyone that this was acceptable behaviour. I have let a lot of people down – my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and fans.
 
I can only deeply apologize from the bottom of my heart. It is a sad and humbling experience. I hope you understand I will not be taking any questions and I thank you for your support of my career to date.
 

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Jannik Sinner sets up a quarter final against Grigor Dimitrov in Beijing

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Jannik Sinner cruised into the quarter final of the China Open with a 6-2 6-0 win over Yoshihito Nishioka in 67 minutes at the China Open in Beijing. 

 

Earlier this week Sinner had won the first match in his career against Dan Evans in three sets. 

Sinner and Nishioka traded breaks in the first two games of the opening set. Sinner won 11 consecutive games in the first set to close out the match. Sinner now leads 2-0 in his head-to-head series against Nishioka.  

“During the first week in China I was sick, and somehow I tried to get through the first round and I knew then I would have one day off. Every day is different. I feel physically much better. I think when I have the shape of physicality, the way I play is a little bit bette Today I played well. Maybe on serve I have to improve a little bit the percentage. I think all the rest was really good today. There were key moments of this match that made my confidence grow”, said Sinner. 

Sinner set up a quarter final against Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Holger Rune 6-3 7-5. Dimitrov has drawn level to 1-1 in his two head-to-head matches against Rune, who beat his Bulgarian rival 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon 2023. 

Dimitrov raced out to a 4-0 lead with a double break. Rune pulled a break back in the sixth game but Dimitrov earned his third break in the ninth game to close out the first set 6-3. 

Both players went on serve until the 12th game when Dimitrov earned his only break on his third match point with forehand drop volley winner to seal the second set 7-5. 

Dimitrov reached the quarter final for the fourth time in his eight appearances at the Beijing tournament. The Bulgarian player lost to Andy Murray in the final of the China Open in 2016.

“I have lost quite a few matches this year against against a few players like that, so I really wanted to step up a little bit more. I still felt I could have done a few things a little bit better, but a win is a win. I just need to think a little bit about what I can improve. From the first match to now I see a few things that are better, but I still believe I can top it off a little bit more”, said Dimitrov. 

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Aryna Sabalenka and Anhelina Kalinina reach the second round at the China Open in Beijing

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This year’s Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round with a 6-2 6-1 win over Sofia Kenin in just 67 minutes at the China Open in Beijing. 

 

Sabalenka fired 22 winners to just 9 unforced errors, while Kenis made made just seven winners. Sabalenka did not face a break point and broke twice in each set. 

World number 28 Anhelina Kalinina came from one set down to beat Marketa Vondrousova 1-6 6-4 6-1. 

Vondrousova broke three times to race out to a 5-0 lead. Kalinina pulled one of the breaks in the sixth game for 1-5 but Vondrousova sealed the first set 6-1 with her third break. 

Vondrousova came within of holding a break lead in the second set. The Czech player was not able to convert one of the three break points and dropped her serve in the seventh game. 

Kalinina lost just games in the rest of the match and broke three times to win the third set 6-1. 

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Alexander Zverev reaches his 10th quarter final of the season in Beijing

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Alexander Zverev came back from one set down to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-1 reaching his 10thquarter final of the season at the China Open in Beijing. 

 

Zverev won the tie-break 7-4 with three mini-breaks after a marathon first set that featured six breaks of serve. Zverev broke twice in the third and fifth games to win the second set 6-2. The German earned three breaks to seal the third set. Zverev saved the only break point he faced in the final two sets. 

Zverev has improved to 4-1 in his head-to-head series against Davidovich Fokina. The Hamburg native player avenged his recent defeat against Davidovich Fokina in Toronto. 

The German player set up a quarter final against Nicolas Jarry. 

Zverev recently reached the quarter final at the US Open and won his second title of the season in Chengdu. He is currently seventh in the ATP Live Race to Turin and could rise to fifth if he wins his third title of the season in Beijing. 

“I am happy with win. I feel like I picked up my game a lot. I played a lot of tennis in the past two weeks. I just need to recover. I need to rest”, said Zverev. 

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