LOVE KEEPS RAPID RICKY ROLLING AT THE GRAND SLAM

RICKY EVANS says love is helping him power through a dream run at the Grand Slam.

‘Rapid’ battled through pain and emotion to beat Luke Woodhouse 10–9 in a nerve-shredding classic and reached his first-ever quarter-final at the major.

World No.46 Evans has been struggling with painful finger spasms for almost a year but admits the support from his partner has kept him going through the toughest moments.

Evans said: “She’s amazing. She’s a nurse, she looks after me, even sorts out tablets for my tendonitis and arthritis.

“Some days I can barely walk. She keeps me calm and positive. She’s not the reason I’m winning – but she definitely helps.”

The 35-year-old also drew inspiration from his late sister, whose memory he believes is still guiding him on stage.

He added: “Maybe she was watching down tonight.

“Maybe she gave me a hand. I don’t know. But I felt something special.

“Of course, I’ll take a bit of credit myself too.

“But maybe she was there with me.”

Evans returns to action on Friday evening and will face Gerwyn Price in Wolverhampton.

Kettering thrower Evans hopes his thumb will hold up in the clash at the Aldersey Leisure Centre.

He continued: “It winds me up because I don’t understand why it happens.

“I keep saying I’m not nervous, but maybe I am deep down. It’s weird, I love being up there, but my body doesn’t always agree.

“Hopefully it’s fine. If it plays up again but I still win, then it can keep coming back for all I care.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.