Australian Open 2016: Dan Evans to face Feliciano López after progressing to main draw

Great Britain's Dan Evans will face Spaniard Feliciano López at the Australian Open after progressing through qualifying to reach the main draw in Melbourne for the first time. The Birmingham-born right-hander defeated Bjorn Fratangelo 7-5 4-6 6-0 to cruise into the opening major of the season but he has been rewarded with a tough first round match.

The 25-year-old joins Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund and Aljaz Bedene in the men's draw while Johanna Konta and Heather Watson will represent Britain in the women's competition. The tournament begins on 18 January. The major will also see Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who have won the Apia International in Sydney, make their grand slam bow in the men's doubles.

"It's nice," Evans said, according to BBC Sport. "I worked hard in pre-season in La Manga. Even in the summer, when I was playing in England in the Futures, I was trying to work pretty hard. It was playing tennis and staying professional. I think that's the difference, just staying focused on court and staying more interested and focused on just playing tennis rather than all the other stuff.

"I tried to hold in the first game. It didn't feel like he was on top or any different from when I won the first set. I tried to jump on him early and then carried on rolling from there. I'd beaten him twice and your belief can start to go when you're losing again to someone who has beaten you twice."