Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Eastbourne match.
Daniel Evans
However, the 35-year-old Brit last faced Tommy Paul back in 2022, which was also when their previous encounters took place. That season saw the pair split their meetings 1-1. A lot has changed since then. Daniel Evans has largely stepped back from the main ATP Tour, focusing instead on Challenger-level events and qualifying rounds. Last week, he received a wild card entry into the Queen’s Club tournament and made the most of it, defeating seventh seed Francis Tiafoe in straight sets (7:5, 6:2). He also put up a strong showing against fellow American Brandon Nakashima, narrowly losing 5:7, 6:7. In Eastbourne, Daniel Evans is once again competing thanks to a wild card. His opening match against Miomir Kecmanovic turned into a gruelling three-set contest (3:6, 6:4, 6:4), which kept him on court for over two hours.
Tommy Paul
The American, meanwhile, has benefited from a break and has been using his time off to prepare, thanks to his seeded status in the draw. Tommy Paul has been recovering not just in recent days, but since early June, following his quarter-final run at Roland Garros. It’s worth recalling his strong form on grass last year: he reached the quarter-finals in Hertogenbosch, lifted the trophy at Queen’s Club, and only bowed out in the Wimbledon quarter-finals to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Daniel Evans vs Tommy Paul Prediction
Not every British player is destined to triumph at their home grass-court events, particularly at this stage of their career. We expect the head-to-head record to be levelled after this match, with Daniel Evans likely to feel the physical toll from his previous extended outing.
