United Cup 2023: Dan Evans vs. Jason Kubler Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 United Cup as Dan Evans takes on Jason Kubler in the group stages on Friday, December 30th, 2022.

Is lightning about to strike twice for Dan Evans when he faces Australia’s Jason Kubler? The pair are set for a Wimbledon rematch, one which Evans is keen to forget. Will the one-hander from Birmingham extend Great Britain’s lead in the tie at the United Cup?

Dan Evans might not even need to win his singles rubber for Great Britain to win the tie against Australia at the United Cup. With a 2-0 lead from the opening day, Evans’ compatriot Harriet Dart might seal the deal if she beats Ajla Tomljanovic. But that is easier said than done and we should expect a response from the Australian team on Friday. That would put Evans in a very precarious position when he takes on a fully charged-up Jason Kubler, should Dart lose. The Australian World No. 107 was promoted to fill Nick Kyrgios’ shoes who sadly withdrew at the 11th hour.

Jason Kubler has good memories to draw upon his most recent meeting against Dan Evans and knows all too well this could be his moment to earn the respect of the Australian faithful. With Australia potentially losing their opening tie of the United Cup, a win by Tomljanovic in the women’s singles would give them a fighting chance in their penultimate rubber. And that bodes well for Kubler who thoroughly outplayed Evans at the 2022 Wimbledon championships. He used that result as a springboard to even greater success at SW19 where he went on to make a surprise fourth-round showing.

Dan Evans and Jason Kubler are currently tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head. Evans won their first meeting at the Vancouver Challenger back in 2018, but the Aussie won their first-round bout at this year’s Wimbledon in a comprehensive fashion. That match was a clear indication that Kubler is a difficult matchup on fast courts. He played exceptionally well in the first half of the season in 2022 which brought him reasonable success. Back the world No. 107 to spring a major upset on Day 2 of the United Cup.