Dan Evans makes special Wimbledon request with Novak Djokovic in his sights

Dan Evans reached the Wimbledon second round for the first time in four years and proceeded to ask the tournament chiefs to put him on Centre Court, if he faces Novak Djokovic next. The 35-year-old became the eighth home player to win in the first round, beating compatriot Jay Clarke in three feisty sets.

Should Djokovic overcome French star Alexandre Muller later on Tuesday, he will set up a mouthwatering clash with Evans, who is relishing the prospect of going toe-to-toe with one of the greatest players in the sport's history. He has just one request, though, to play on Britain's most iconic tennis venue.

When asked for his thoughts on potentially facing Djokovic, Evans replied: "I would love it to be on Centre. That's it, that's all I ask. Just to get a chance to play him. I have played him before and it would be really nice to play Novak, who if he won't mind me saying is at the latter end of his career.

"And I really want to go out there and give it a good go. Because it's here, it's really special and for it to be in England against the greatest of all time."

Clarke had been complaining to the umpire about Evans' conduct between serves, with a BBC commentator accusing the veteran of using the "dark arts" to make his opponent "salty". After the match, Evans admitted he did not want to be in the position of sending a fellow Englishman home.

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"I actually thought when I went to the court that I hadn't won here for a little bit," Evans added. "It was amazing. It was really unfortunate to have to play Jay, two guys from the Midlands, I grew up with his sister, we went to the same academy together and I have known Jay since he was really small.

"It's just a bit unfortunate but we both took care of our own business and had a good match, I am just delighted to come through it. It has been tough but I have played really well today.

"It was a difficult match, the heat didn't help matters, but I got through the other side and I wanted a win just to get a chance at Novak, that's the bottom line."

Evans threw towels, sweatbands and balls into the crowd in a moment of pure emotion after sealing victory, a moment he will cherish, having broken down in tears before the tournament when reflecting on his recent struggles.

Having fallen out of the top 200 before the grass court season, before bagging wins against the likes of Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, he confessed: "I struggled a bit to do the other things. I did wonder: 'Why are you doing this?' It's been awful basically, I played poor, but it's going in a better direction.

"It's not the matches, it's, geez, it's when you feel like you've let people down. That's the tougher thing about it. I have no idea why I'm getting upset. You go home to your wife (Aleah) and she travels, just stupid things like you see the kids - not my kids, obviously - and: 'Did you win?" 'No'. You're not used to losing, that's probably more of the thing.

"I don't worry about retirement but it's just different isn't it. To start losing, it's scary at the end of the day to know sometimes you're not good enough. It's not an easy thing in sport to not be good enough. I don't know why I'm so emotional about it."