Dan Evans the British No. 1 joined fellow Briton Andy Murray in the second round of the Western and Southern Open with a confident 7-5 3-6 6-2 win over tenth seed Andrey Rublev.
This was their third meeting of the year and Evans now leads the series 2 – 1 after a gruelling two and half hour encounter.
Evans’ win sets up a second-round meeting with 2016 Wimbledon Finalist Milos Raonic, and they will be meeting for the first time.
“I am happy with how I played in the third, it was really deserved and some good tennis as well,” Evans said.
“It will probably be a little less physical match (against Raonic) which is nice, but I spent plenty of time out here so it will be difficult.
“Everyone knows how good he is and I will be looking to put my game on the court and try to beat him.”
The British pair could meet in the last 16 if two time Wimbledon champion and two time Cincinnati winner Murray can overcome fifth seed Alexander Zverev on Monday.
