Dan Evans reached the fourth round of the US Open last year, but the 32-year-old Briton – who was ranked 22nd in the world last autumn and now in 32nd place – was thus defeated by the nine-year-old Swede.
Mikael Ymer’s victory numbers were written to 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Ymer, who defeated 72-ranked Australian James Duckworth in three straight sets in the first round, broke Evans’ serve three times in the first set and won 6-3.
However, it was a long way off; only on the sixth set ball – after, among other things, two double errors – could Ymer via a serveess take the lead in the match.
In the second set, Evans had the command, went up to 3-1 and later also took the set with 6-3. Evans looked to continue on the beaten path in the third set. The British took the lead with 2-0 – but then Ymer woke up, who won six straight games and thus took home the set with 6-2.
Turned again
In the fourth set, Evans took the lead with 2-0, went to 3-1 and the question was asked whether there would be a repeat of the second or the third set.
It became the latter.
Ymer caught up to 3-3 and completed the turn to 4-3. After going up to 5-3, Ymer got two match balls in his own serve. On the first, he fixed the set numbers to 6-3, and the match with 3-1.
This is the third time that the 23-year-old Swede, 95th in the world rankings, reaches the third round of a grand slam tournament. Last year he went there in both the Australian Open and in the French championships.
Meet Tsitsipas?
Now it remains to be seen if Mikael Ymer can answer for a career best. In the third round, however, he looks to face tough opposition, in the form of world four Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 23-year-old Greek – who went to the final of the French Championships last year and led 2-0 in sets before Novak Djokovic turned and won – leads against Czech qualifier Zdenek Kolar with 2-0 in sets.
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