Dan Evans fumes
As Dan Evans called time on his career, he had one final pop at the LTA and claimed “no one had the minerals” to tell him why he did not receive any wildcards for his “shambolic” farewell. A former world No. 21, Evans won two titles, including the 2023 Washington Open, was part of Britain’s 2015 Davis Cup-winning squad, and helped Andy Murray retire at the 2024 Olympic Games, where they reached the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles.
While Evans was able to help Murray say goodbye on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at Stade Roland Garros, with a capacity of around 10,000, his own career came to an end in front of around 300 spectators on Court 15 at the All England Club as he teamed up with 20-year-old Henry Searle, whom he started coaching while out injured, to lose 6-2 6-4 to No. 9 seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
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The former British No. 1 announced his retirement last month, but did not receive a wildcard into any pre-Wimbledon grass-court event, including Queen’s and the Ilkley Challenger. He knew the writing was on the wall when it came to getting a singles wildcard in SW19.
After losing in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying in Roehampton last week, the 36-year-old said: “I can read people, and they don't say hello to you and certain things... You have a fair idea, and they keep that distance. I'm not the only one either. So I knew it wasn't coming.”
Evans’ career finally came to an end on one of the small outer courts at the All England Club, where he and Searle had received a doubles wildcard. And the Birmingham native was teary as he waved goodbye to professional tennis. And less than an hour after he walked off the court for the final time, Evans called out the LTA for failing to “communicate” with him during what had been a “shambles” of a final month of his career.
“I just don't understand the reasoning for, and nobody has given me a decent reason. If they said, ‘Listen, you're a bit overweight right now’. No, I'm serious. Like, ‘You're a bit out of shape’. But nobody's had the minerals or however you want to phrase it to come over from the governing body, who I think I have done plenty for, and given me an explanation, you know,” he said.
“I think that's just... It's pride, isn't it? I don't know. Is that the word? And if you're not going to do that, and it's certainly not Jamie Baker's [of the All England Club] job to come and give me the reason why he didn't give me a wildcard. It's not the tournament director to do that.
I just think somebody could have come and, you know, sit down and spoke. Like, jeez, I paid enough. Like that's their job. And that's all.
“I'm not angry, but jeez, tell the truth or, like, you can't give me a wildcard into Ilkley. The reasoning was they was all given out. I have been playing tennis for 16 years on the tour, and I have always known that the wildcards aren't given out on a Monday. Monday before a ball is hit on the grass courts in Birmingham, how have the wildcards gone? We've not got a massive pool of players. So I don't care about the wildcard.
“Listen, I would have loved to play singles, but... We all know why that is. Don't give me some nonsense answer about they're all gone to Ilkley. Come on, guys. That's a total p***take for me. Excuse my French. If you can't have a conversation and be honest... Listen, if they turned around and say, ‘Listen, you've hardly played’. But it was, like, ‘You're a coach, you're not getting one’.
“No, I was out there helping another Brit when I've been injured. I didn't see any of those guys out there helping Henry when he needed help. So that was my point. It's nothing against the club, but somebody come and have a conversation. You know, communication is a big thing in tennis. That's my point. You know, are they working this week? I have not seen any of them. Serious. No one spoke to me this week. No one has congratulated me on my career this week, yeah.”
Despite Evans’ claims, the LTA celebrated his glittering career as soon as he suffered a straight-set doubles defeat at Wimbledon on Wednesday. The body’s social media accounts were full of tributes, including a video with well-wishes from Murray, Jack Draper, and Tim Henman.
Some of the highlights of Evans’ career have involved representing his country, and he explained: “I enjoyed playing Davis Cup for my country more than I can tell you. It's the best, the best thing ever. But the last month has been nothing short of a shambles from them. That's the bottom line. You speak to people; you talk to people. So yeah, anyway, but listen, it's nice that you feel appreciated and that they thought I've helped in some way. Again, I don't think we should play tennis to get validation off certain, you know, people or whatever.”
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And Evans had no grievances over his court assignment, preferring to play in front of hardcore grounds pass holders who would have had to queue to get a seat on Court 15. He added: “I actually messaged someone a minute ago saying it was quite cool that it was Court 15. I had never been out there. I mean, yeah, it was all a bit fitting for how the last month has gone for me. It was pretty cool that, you know, the ground passes got on, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
As Evans’ career drew to a close, LTA CEO Scott Lloyd said: “On behalf of everyone involved in British tennis I'd like to congratulate Dan on an outstanding career which includes a career-high of world No.21, two ATP Tour titles and many defining and memorable performances for Great Britain. He never gave anything less than 100 per cent in the Davis Cup and at the Olympics. He has made a huge contribution to tennis in this country and cares deeply about the game.
“We wish him the best of luck as he begins the next stage of his career. We want to retain his experience within the British game and hope he will continue to contribute his passion and expertise.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion also paid tribute to the retiring Brit. “Unbelievably talented guy. Very competitive, loves to compete. He’s got a good heart Evo and he absolutely loves British tennis. He’s been a huge part of the Davis Cup teams over the years. He’s done extremely well,” Murray said of Evans, who decided not to defend his 500 ranking points from his Washington Open title a couple of years ago, in favour of teaming up with the former No. 1 for his retirement tournament at the Olympics.