Dan Evans has branded Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) “nothing short of a mess”, adding he feels it was a “total p***-take” that he was denied a Wimbledon wild card ahead of his retirement from the sport.
Evans, 36, who made a tearful exit from the sport and Wimbledon after first-round doubles defeat with fellow Brit Henry Searle on Wednesday, missed out on a singles wild card this year and lost in qualifying.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Evans targeted the LTA, which also refused to grant him wildcard entries for this year’s Queen’s and Ilkley Open, with the former world No 21 claiming the organization had not given him reasons why.
Sky Sports has contacted the LTA for comment.
“The last month has been nothing short of a mess from them [LTA]that’s the bottom line,” Evans said. “You talk to people, you talk to people.
“I just don’t understand the rationale for it and no one has given me a decent reason [for lack of wild card].
“If they said, ‘Look, you’re a little overweight right now,’ no, I’m serious. Like, ‘You’re a little out of shape,’ but nobody’s had the minerals, or however you want to put it, to come over from the governing body, which I think I’ve done a lot for, and give me an explanation.
“I think it’s just…It’s pride, isn’t it? I don’t know. Is that the word? And if you don’t want to do it, and it’s definitely not Jamie Baker’s [Wimbledon tournament director] job to come and give me the reason why he didn’t give me a wild card. It is not the tournament director to do that.
“I just think somebody could have come and sat down and talked. Like, gee, I paid enough. That’s their job. And that’s all. I enjoyed playing Davis Cup for my country more than I can tell you. It’s the best thing ever.
“I’m not angry, but gee, tell the truth.
“You can’t give me a wild card to Ilkley? The reason was that they were all given out. I’ve played tennis for 16 years on the tour and I’ve always known that wild cards don’t come out on a Monday.
“Monday before a ball is hit on the grass in Birmingham, how have the wild cards gone? We don’t have a massive pool of players. So I don’t care about the wild cards.
“Look, I would have loved to play singles, but we all know why. Don’t give me some nonsense about them all being away in Ilkley. Come on guys. It’s a total p***-take to me. Excuse my French.
“If you can’t have a conversation and be honest…Listen, if they turned around and said, ‘You’ve barely played’, 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 the guys out there helping Henry when he needed help. So that was my point. It’s nothing against the club, but someone comes and has a conversation.
“Communication is a big thing in tennis. That’s my point. Are they working this week? I haven’t seen any of them, seriously.
“No one spoke to me this week. No one congratulated me on my career this week.”
The LTA aired tributes at X to Evans in the wake of his retirement, featuring interviews and quotes from Sir Andy Murray, Tim Henman and Jack Draper.
The LTA also released a lengthy article in tribute to Evans and a statement shortly after the 36-year-old’s defeat and retirement was confirmed.
Inside, LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said: “On behalf of everyone involved in British tennis, I would like to congratulate Dan on an outstanding career which includes a career-high of world No.21, two ATP Tour titles and many defining and memorable achievements for Great Britain.
“He never gave less than 100 per cent in the Davis Cup and at the Olympics. He has made a huge contribution to tennis in this country and cares deeply about the game.
“We wish him well as he begins the next phase of his career. We want to retain his experience within the British game and hope he will continue to contribute his passion and expertise.”
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