Dan Evans went out with a bang as he slammed the LTA for lacking the "minerals" to explain his Wimbledon wildcard snub, labelling their treatment of him in recent weeks "a piss-take".
Career Ends with Defeat and Outburst
The curtain came down on the 36-year-old's career on Wednesday afternoon as he lost in the first round of the doubles at SW19 alongside Henry Searle. That match was put on Court 15, limiting those who could watch. Evans said that decision was "a bit fitting for how the last month has gone for me."
"The last month has been nothing short of a shambles from them," Evans added. "That's the bottom line."
Wildcard Requests Denied
Evans announced in June that he would be retiring after Wimbledon but that was not enough to earn him a wildcard into the main draw. Instead he had to go through qualifying and he was beaten in his second match at Roehampton. That came after Evans' requests for a wildcard at Queen's and a Challenger event at Ilkley were also turned down.
Speaking after his Wimbledon doubles defeat, Evans took aim at British tennis chiefs for their failure to communicate why he had been overlooked.
"I just don't understand the reasoning - nobody has given me a decent reason," Evans said. "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. I just think somebody could have come and sat down and spoke. Like, jeez, I paid enough. That's their job. And that's all."
Previous Criticism of LTA
Evans said last month that the decision to not grant him a wildcard at Queen's lacked "class". He was also left bemused a week earlier when his request for a wildcard into the Ilkley Challenger was rejected. He was then beaten in the second round of qualifying.
"I'm not angry, but jeez, tell the truth," Evans continued. "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 [at Wimbledon], but... we all know why that is. Don't give me some nonsense answer about they're all gone at Ilkley. Come on, guys. That's a total piss-take for me. Excuse my French."
Coaching Role and Lack of Communication
Evans played a limited schedule this season due to injury and he instead started some coaching work with Searle. He suggested that had been used as a reason to not give him a Wimbledon wildcard. Evans also revealed that well wishes on his retirement had been few and far between at the All England Club.
"If they turned around and said, 'listen, you've hardly played'," Evans said. "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. Communication is a big thing in tennis. 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."
