Wimbledon round-up Evans at risk of early exit as six Brits endure mixed bag

British tennis had six hopefuls competing in the men’s and women’s singles on the opening day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships with Jan Choinski, Liam Broady and Jodie Burrage all safely through to the second round. But it was bitter disappointment for Harriet Dart and Katie Swan while Dan Evans will resume his match on Tuesday two sets down after play was suspended due to bad light.

Evans has long threatened to have a breakthrough at Wimbledon but he suffered a frustrating first-round exit last year to a qualifer. As the No 27 seed this year, Evans once again faced a favourable opening match against Frenchman Quentin Halys.

But the 26-year-old is entering Wimbledon off the back of winning the Challenger Blois. And Halys took that momentum into his first-round match with an out-of-form Evans.

The British No 2 cut a frustrated figure in the early stages as he couldn’t get any rhythm going in his game. The light may have saved Evans another first-round exit as his match was suspended after the second set.

But he now faces a mountain to climb when play resumes on Tuesday with Halys in control having won the opening two sets. It was similar frustrations for Swan, who came into Wimbledon with high hopes after an impressive showing in the warm-up grass events.

However, she always faced a difficult task against No 14 seed Belinda Bencic, who showed her class to win in straight sets. Dart similarly suffered disappointment despite taking the opening set against Diane Parry.

But it was a different story entirely for Burrage, who obliterated American Caty McNally. The British No 2 lost just four games as she wrapped up the first-round win in little over an hour.