Evan In Fine Form As He Reaches Darwin Final

By Owen Morgan

Wales’ Evan Hoyt has continued his excellent form in Australia by reaching the final of the men’s singles at the Darwin Tennis International.

Fresh from winning the doubles title at the Cairns Tennis International, the 23-year-old cruised into the final at Darwin without dropping a set.

Unfortunately, his unblemished record was ended in the final by 19-year-old Japanese prospect Yuta Shimzu – the number one seed eventually taking a tight first set 7-6 after a hard fought tie-break which ended 8-6

Hoyt fought back to win the second set 6-3, before Shimizu eventually clinched his third ITF Futures singles title of the year by taking the deciding set 6-4.

Number six seed Hoyt started the tournament in fine form winning his first round match against Aoran Wang, of China, 6-3, 6-2.

The Llanelli right-hander was in equally impressive form in the last 16 where he disposed of Australian Ken Cavrak 6-4,6-2, before easing past another Aussie, number two seed Jeremy Beale 6-4, 6-3.

This set up a semi-final against another home based player – fifth seed Michael Look. Once again, Hoyt was too strong, winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to see him into the final.

http://twitter.com/HoytEvan/status/1043471525855166470

Following Hoyt’s doubles win in partnership with American Dusty Boyer in Cairns, the pairing got of to a flying start in the Darwin competition as they swept aside home duo Rhet Purcell and Olly Sadler 6-4, 6-1.

But they were unable to repeat their Cairns success as they bowed out to American Conor Faren and China’s Wang in a hard fought quarter final.

After losing the first set 6-3, Hoyt and Boyer took the second by the same score, only to be edged out in the decider.

The pairing now move on to this week’s Brisbane QTC Tennis International tournament where they are due to start their campaign against Australian pairing James Frawley and Bradley Mousley.

In the singles, Hoyt is due to start his bid to go one step further than Darwin when he takes on Australia’s Jesse Delaney on Wednesday.