Dan Evans edges out Marcus Willis and Jack Findel-Hawkins to reach Wimbledon qualifying

By Raz Mirza at Queen's Club

Image: Dan Evans beat his close friend Marcus Willis in Wimbledon pre-qualifying

Dan Evans beat fellow Brits Marcus Willis and Jack Findel-Hawkins to reach the first round of Wimbledon qualifying.

World No 340 Evans came through (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) against Willis in a highly-entertaining encounter at Southlands College, Roehampton before edging out 23-year-old Jack Findel-Hawkins, who is ranked 812 in the world, 6-4 3-6 6-3 to claim a wild card into qualifying next week.

It's the first time since returning two months ago from a drugs ban that Evans had to play two matches in a day - and will now have to beat three further opponents next week to reach the Wimbledon main draw.

Those involved in the first round from July 2 are guaranteed £39,000 in prize money.

Evans did not receive a Wimbledon wildcard having served his year-long ban for testing positive for cocaine in April 2017 and is in the early stages of his return. World No 730 Willis said on Thursday: "It's a shame that everyone who plays him here is going to get punished as well."

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