Dan Evans and Jack Pinnington Jones join Jack Draper in Wimbledon victories on Tuesday - as SEVEN British men charge into round two

One is a battle-scarred 35-year-old appearing at Wimbledon for the tenth time. The other a 22-year-old rookie making his Grand Slam debut straight out of college.

But Dan Evans and Jack Pinnington Jones were brilliant wildcard winners on Tuesday — and took the tally of home players in the men’s second round to a magnificent seven.

After a record-breaking day for the Brits on Monday, Evans was the first to progress on day two, comfortably seeing off his countryman Jay Clarke 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 on Court 12.

The Brummie has been an emotional wreck in recent days, crying on court at Eastbourne last week, then breaking down again in his pre-tournament press conference at the weekend.

But while Evans managed not to weep at Wimbledon, he could not contain his delight at sealing his first win here in four years — leaping into the air, punching the sky and letting out an almighty roar. ‘That was one of the top, top wins in my career,’ he said.

For some, that seemed a surprising statement given the world No 154 was always meant to beat Clarke, who is ranked 42 places below him. But Evans’ victory was significant for what has gone before.

Since playing doubles with Andy Murray at last summer’s Paris Olympics, Evans has been forced to slog away on the Challenger Tour, appearing in such outposts as Thailand and Bahrain. 

He went eight months without winning a single ATP Tour-level match and fell out of the world’s top 200, recollections of which reduced him to tears last Saturday.

Evans, though, has found form since the start of the grass-court season last month, beating Americans Frances Tiafoe at Queen’s and Tommy Paul at Eastbourne to more than earn his Wimbledon wildcard.

After running away with the first set, Evans showed all his experience when fellow Midlands man Clarke was serving at 5-5 in the second, deliberately taking his time at the back of the court between points and breaking. 

‘That’s not normal,’ irate British No 6 Clarke complained to the umpire. ‘You don’t notice anything.’ There was, though, a lighter moment towards the end of the match when Clarke dumped a dismal underarm serve into the bottom of the net. 

‘Try again,’ bellowed Evans, as the pair then got the giggles. Clarke won that service game, but Evans sealed victory in the next. ‘I had so many friends here today, although my dad thought a round of golf was more important!’ laughed Evans.

Further British joy was supplied later in the day by world No 281 Pinnington Jones, who took apart Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry — ranked a whopping 228 places above him – 7-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The Surrey player is a teenage friend of Jack Draper, the third home player to progress on Tuesday, and the British No 1 used to drive him to training at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Against the advice of Evans, Pinnington Jones then moved to the States to attend Texas Christian University — the alma matter of Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley.

But he left a month ago to turn professional, meaning he can keep his £99,000 prize money, unlike his countryman Oliver Tarvet, the University of San Diego student, who won on Monday and plays holder Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday.

‘This win solidifies the belief that I had in myself to go pro early,’ said Pinnington Jones, who next meets Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli.

‘Having a win like this and being able to keep the prize money, it’s huge. It funds my tennis for the next two or three years.’

Of the other British men in first-round action, Johannus Monday lost in straight sets to 13th seed Paul, while George Loffhagen was beaten in four by Spaniard Pedro Martinez.