Dan Evans and Joshua Milton became the first two British men to advance to the second round of Wimbledon Men’s Singles Qualifying on Monday.

The British wild cards contended with blustery conditions on their way to victory in the late afternoon sunshine.

Evans, who hails from Birmingham, displayed nerves of steel to see off the Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Pospisil 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2).

“It was difficult,” the 25-year-old admitted after the match. “His game suited the grass. It was about getting my chances and taking them. He’s pretty good at coming onto the ball and being aggressive himself so it was pretty much me trying to take it away from him. Whoever was on top was winning the points.”

Evans broke in the seventh game of the second set but promptly dropped serve two games later. By the tie-break his aggressive streak had returned.

Strong serving and a winning volley helped him secure a crucial early lead as did a Pospisil double fault, which afforded the Briton four match points. He only needed the one as his opponent would go on to net the very next ball. 

“It was blustery and tough with the rain in the air,” Evans added. “It was pretty slow. They were tough conditions but it was good to get through.”

Earlier in the day Cardiff-born Joshua Milton, 25, recovered from a set down to overcome Czech Jan Hernych 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes.