Dan Evans has criticised the Lawn Tennis Association for not doing the “classy gesture” and giving him a wild card at the HSBC Championships.
Evans, 36, will not be in action at Queen’s Club this week after losing his qualifier to Marcos Giron on Saturday.
“It would have been a classy gesture to give me a wild card, but obviously that was lacking on this occasion and I was in qualifying,” Evans said.
“I think wild cards are a good thing for Brits. I would say 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.
“I entered the qualifying here myself, and I got in last minute. I was offered a wild card into qualifying here,” Evans added.
“I was a bit perplexed that the LTA didn’t offer me one into main draw, myself, I obviously made the last 16 last year. It would have helped me a lot to get a few more days preparation to start main draw, but again, that’s up to them, the powers that be.
“I haven’t played a bunch of tennis, but again, that’s the reasons out of my control. I’ve been injured and that’s the reason I’m obviously retiring, because my body hasn’t been great and I no longer want to put myself through the training.”
Evans aiming for one last hurrah at SW19
After reaching a career-high ranking of world No 21 in 2023, Evans struggled with injury, playing just five matches this year, including the defeat by Giron. Earlier this month, Evans announced that he will retire from tennis following this year’s Wimbledon where he hopes to feature.
“I’ve applied via the All England Club. If they give me one or not, it’s not up to me,” Evans said on Monday.
“I’m obviously a temporary member there, so I hope that helps. I use the club during the year. I feel I’ve done plenty of time helping British tennis, off the court, and on the court, so I hope I get one.
“But I’m well capable – I’m in off my own ranking into qualifying and I’m capable of qualifying. I think what some people have forgotten is I’m a professional tennis player and I wouldn’t be playing if I wasn’t prepared or ready to play, or fit to play.”
Wimbledon will meet on Tuesday to discuss who will receive wild cards for the All England Club’s event which starts on June 29. After pressure from players the Championships’ prize money has increased to a total pot of £64.2m, with the first-round losers leaving with £80,000 – an increase of £14,000 from last year – despite not winning a single match.