Dan Evans makes his return to top-level tennis at the Queen's Club this week, playing at the same time as Andy Murray, who is also making his comeback after hip surgery. However, Evans faces a different kind of scrutiny: his year-long lay-off was the result of a ban for cocaine use at the height of his career.
The 28-year-old, once described as the “most egregious waste of talent”, takes on Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. This wild card entry is his fifth tournament since completing his ban. Evans knows he has work to do to earn back the faith of the tennis world, including Murray, who has made no secret of his disdain for drug use.
Murray said at the time of the ban: “He has let himself down and all of the people that help him. I’m sure his team and family will be extremely disappointed. He put himself in a position to do really well for the last few years of his career and he has blown that now.”
The LTA believes in second chances, and British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has been in close contact, plotting Evans' return. Smith watched from the stands as Evans won his first match back in qualifying at the Glasgow Trophy in April. Evans is grateful for the support: “Obviously, I put people in a terribly awkward position and I can only say thank you to those people who backed my corner… to give me an equal chance at that wild card.”
Evans has been contrite, speaking about the error of taking cocaine, the fall-out, and a year out of the game. He said: “It happened, it’s been and gone. It’s a shocking drug and not just in sport. It’s terrible in life, it’s a life ruiner. It was an error of judgement. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
