Dan Evans, the former British No. 1 and world No. 21, has expressed disappointment after being denied a wildcard for the Wimbledon main draw as he prepares to retire from professional tennis this summer. Evans, 36, hoped the All England Club and the LTA would acknowledge his years of dedication to British tennis by granting him a place in his farewell tournament, but his ranking secured only a spot in the qualifying rounds.
The Birmingham-born player’s retirement tour has been less than smooth. At this week’s ATP 500 event at Queen’s Club, Evans was left “perplexed” when he didn’t receive a main draw wildcard and had to enter the qualifying competition, where he lost to American Marcos Giron in three sets. Reflecting on the decision, Evans said, “I think wildcards are a good thing for Brits. You hope to do enough years of service for your country to maybe get one in your last tournament at Queen’s, but that wasn’t the way they went. They went with some younger guys, and that’s their prerogative.”
Evans, who was part of Britain’s victorious 2015 Davis Cup team, believes his contributions should have warranted more consideration. “It would have been a classy gesture to give me a wildcard,” he remarked. “I was offered a wildcard into qualifying here. I was a bit perplexed that the LTA didn’t offer me one into the main draw, especially since I made the round of 16 last year. It would have helped me prepare better, but that’s up to them, the powers that be.”
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Injuries have affected Evans' recent career trajectory. His 2023 season ended early after a wrist injury sustained at the Guangzhou Huangpu Challenger. During his recovery, he has supported promising young player Henry Searle, the 2023 Wimbledon boys’ singles champion and current doubles partner. Despite limited matches due to injury, Evans feels his readiness shouldn’t be in question.
“Yeah, I haven’t played much tennis, but that’s due to reasons out of my control — I’ve been injured,” Evans explained. “That’s why I’m retiring; my body hasn’t held up, and I no longer want to endure the physical toll of training.”
Evans was also passed over for a main draw wildcard at Wimbledon, with spots going to a group of younger Brits, including Jake Fearnley and Jack Pinnington-Jones, as well as established players like Stanislas Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov. However, Evans earned entry into the Wimbledon qualifying competition thanks to his ranking and received a doubles wildcard alongside Searle.
Despite his frustrations, Evans remains proud of his career and his service to British tennis. “I feel I’ve done plenty of time helping British tennis, both on and off the court,” he said. “I’m well capable of qualifying, and I think some people have forgotten that I’m a professional player ready and fit to compete. It’s frustrating that because I’ve helped another Brit whilst injured, I don’t feel I’ve been taken seriously.”
Evans’ farewell season also includes some memorable moments. He teamed up with Andy Murray at the 2024 Paris Olympics for Murray’s retirement event, reaching the men’s doubles quarter-finals. Reflecting on that experience, Evans said, “That was one of the best weeks in tennis I’ve had. Playing for my country has always been the best part, regardless of personal results.”
As Evans prepares for his final Wimbledon appearance, he hopes his contributions to British tennis will be remembered and respected, even if the wildcards did not come his way this time.