‘It will be interesting to see who ends up with more money’: Dan Evans out to catch Jamie Murray in cash race after taking at least £37,000 at Miami Open
- British players Jamie Murray and Dan Evans had a public spat earlier this year
- Evans criticised Murray’s view that doubles stars were under-appreciated by LTA
- But he believes the two of them can still co-exist at Great Britain team events
Dan Evans will not be backing down over his Australian Open spat with Jamie Murray but believes the two of them can still co-exist at Great Britain team events.
In January the British No 3 gave an interview to Sportsmail criticising Murray’s belief that doubles players were under-appreciated by the Lawn Tennis Association.
The six-times Grand Slam doubles champion was quick to fire back, pointing out — among other things — that he had earned more money from tennis than his compatriot.
Dan Evans will not be backing down over his Australian Open spat with Jamie Murray
‘It will be interesting to see who ends up with more money at the end of their careers, won’t it?’, reflected Evans with a half smile after bolstering his bank account by at least £37,000 by making the second round of the Miami Open via a 6-2, 6-0 win over Malek Jaziri.
Evans, 28, has earned just under £1.2million so far in his career, compared to around £3.3m for the 33-year-old Murray.
Kyle Edmund, who had an initial bye, on Friday made the third round when he defeated Ilya Ivashka of Belarus 6-3, 6-2.
British No 3 criticised Murray’s belief that doubles players were under-appreciated by the LTA
Evans stands by his comments about doubles. The Midlander and Murray clashed over how much support and esteem doubles players are deserving of.
‘I didn’t agree with him. The LTA are an easy target to hammer but no doubles player from the UK can hammer the LTA, if anything they get a lot,’ said Evans. ‘Louis Cayer (LTA doubles coach) was there in Phoenix last week.
‘That’s what I don’t like; the LTA are an easy target and I think people take the p*** out of them when they can, they have an easy go.
‘I actually like playing doubles. He took it personally that I had ridiculed their profession but I definitely didn’t because I enjoy playing doubles. It was nothing personal against Jamie. We all have opinions and that was it.
‘I spoke to him since, I saw him at Indian Wells and Phoenix. I’ve not got an issue with him and I don’t think he has got an issue with me.
Evans revealed that Davis Cup captain Leon Smith (L) had been careful not to take sides
‘It was just a bit of a bad episode. He shouldn’t have said what he said and maybe I shouldn’t have said what I said, it was tit for tat. But I’m never going to fall out with Jamie — I really like and get on with him one of the best during Davis Cup and we have a lot of fun.’
Evans said that Davis Cup captain Leon Smith had been careful not to take sides. There are now two major team competitions in men’s tennis with the Davis Cup and the new ATP Cup, with both Evans and Murray likely to be involved.
‘There’s a fence and he is firmly sitting on it. Hopefully I will get in the teams. That’s up to Leon, that’s what he’s paid the big bucks for,’ said Evans, whose ranking has shot up nearly 100 places already this year into double digits.
He will face 20th seed Denis Shapovalov in Miami on Saturday.
Kyle Edmund’s recovery from a poor start to the year continued with a win over Ilya Ivashka
British No 1 Edmund’s recovery from a poor start to the year continued with a comfortable win over Ivashka that saw him earn a meeting with 12th seed Milos Raonic.
Having recently parted from his Swedish co-coach Freddie Rosengren, the British No 1 has yet to decide whether to replace him and will continue to work with Mark Hilton.
‘It could be that I will end up doing a few weeks without a coach, I’ve done it before,’ he said.
Jo Konta was on Friday due to face Chinese No 1 Qiang Wang.