Dan Evans Slams LTA for "Lacking Minerals" Over Wimbledon Wildcard Snub

Britain’s Dan Evans has accused the Lawn Tennis Association of “lacking the minerals” to tell him why he was not given a Wimbledon singles wildcard after calling time on his 20-year career. Evans was hoping to say goodbye with a final appearance in the men’s singles this year, after confirming he was retiring at the All England Club.

Instead, he ended up bowing out on the lowly settings of Court 15 on Wednesday as he and his partner, Henry Searle, were defeated 6-2, 6-4 by the ninth seeds, Hugo Nys and Édouard Roger-Vasselin.

But Evans, once ranked as high as 21 in the world, gave a far more spirited performance after the match as he revealed his frustration with the tennis authorities.

“The last month has been ­nothing short of a shambles from them,” he said. “That’s the bottom line. You speak to people, you talk to people. I just don’t understand the reasoning and nobody has given me a decent reason. If they said, ‘Listen, you’re a bit overweight right now, 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 have done plenty for, and given me an explanation.

“ I just think somebody could have come and sat down and spoke. That’s their job.”

Wimbledon’s wildcard decisions are made by the All England Club. However, it takes advice from the Lawn Tennis Association, which runs the sport in Britain and it was decided to give Evans a wildcard for the doubles, but not the singles.

Evans also expressed his astonishment he did not get a wildcard for a minor event last month, which would have given him a chance to prove his form and earn a Wimbledon wildcard.

“I’m not angry, but, jeez, tell the truth. You can’t give me a wildcard into Ilkley? The reasoning was they were all given out. I have been playing tennis for 16 years on the tour and I have always known the wildcards aren’t given out on a Monday. Come on, guys.”

The LTA has put out a tribute to Evans on its website, but the 36-year-old said he would have also liked a thank you in person. “Communication is a big thing in tennis,” he said. “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.”

Asked how he would feel when he woke up tomorrow and was no longer a professional player, Evans said: “I can tell you what I’ll feel: hungover.

“I’m not going to go home and get like I used to when I was young, but I’ll have a few beers. I’ll sit down with friends, family, and probably reminisce a bit. It’s been great.”