Melbourne - British terrier Dan Evans savoured his best
Grand Slam showing with a tenacious straight-sets win over local hope Bernard
Tomic at the Australian Open on Friday.
The pumped-up, 51st-ranked Evans eliminated Australia's last
remaining men's contender in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/3) win over the 27th seed
to reach the fourth round.
Evans lined up a round of 16 encounter with the 2008
finalist and 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
It is Evans's best Grand Slam result, having reached the
third round of both the 2013 and 2016 US Opens and last year's Wimbledon.
"It was just tough. Bernie is difficult, he is
unorthodox when he plays, he plays aggressive," Evans said.
"I found it hard at the start but happy to have come
through.
"I was just focusing on the end goal the whole time."