Evans lashes out at Wimbledon chiefs over Wimbledon singles snub
An emotional Dan Evans branded the handling of his retirement a ‘p***-take’ and a ‘shambles’ after the former British number one ended his professional career playing Wimbledon doubles on tiny Court 15.
The former British number one was controversially not given a wildcard into the men’s singles draw despite this championships being his final tournament and Evans claims no one from the LTA had ‘the minerals’ to give him a reason.
Evans, who then lost in qualifying, bowed out alongside young Brit Henry Searle in the first round of the men’s doubles and broke down in tears as he received a huge ovation from the small crowd, some of whom wore ‘thank you Dan’ t-shirts.
Moments after his defeat, the LTA posted a series of messages on social media, including tributes from Andy Murray.
‘The last month has been nothing short of a shambles from them,’ said Evans. ‘That's the bottom line.
‘Nobody has given me a decent reason. 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.
Dan Evans, left, branded the handling of his retirement a ‘p***-take’ and a ‘shambles’ after his career playing Wimbledon doubles on tiny Court 15
Fans came out in force, with some wearing 'Thanks Dan' t-shirts, with Evans breaking down in tears post-match
"He's got a good heart, Evo." 🫶@andy_murray, @jackdraper0 & Tim Henman on Dan Evans ✨ pic.twitter.com/oOw9D0P3Zl
— LTA (@the_LTA) July 1, 2026
‘I think that's just... it's pride, isn't it? I don't know. Is that the word? And if you're not going to do that, and it's certainly not Jamie Baker's job to come and give me the reason why he didn't give me a wildcard. It's not the tournament director to do that.
‘I just think somebody could have come and, you know, sit down and speak. Like, jeez, they get paid enough. Like that's their job.
‘I’m not angry, but jeez, tell the truth.’
Evans was not one of the eight wildcards handed out for the men’s singles draw, with six other Brits given one as well as Grigor Dimitrov, who was two sets up against Jannik Sinner before getting injured, and the also-retiring Stan Wawrinka.
‘We would have loved to have given Dan Evans a wildcard but there were only eight in the main draw,’ former British number one Tim Henman explained while on punditry duties for the BBC.
‘The way it works is that the LTA come and present to a wildcard committee. They then leave the room and we have to decide. There were certainly six British players ahead of Dan for main draw wildcards and then we also wanted to give Grigor Dimitrov, who made the quarter finals here last year, and was up two sets to love against Jannik Sinner and then tore his pec muscle. And then Stan Wawrinka is a three time Grand Slam champion.
‘Perhaps if there had been 12 or 13 main draw wildcards he would have got one but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.’
Evans said he knew the writing was on the wall when he wasn’t even handed a wildcard to the ATP Challenger Ilkley earlier this month.
Evans claimed no-one from the LTA had given him a reason for being snubbed for a men's singles wildcard
Evans ultimately ended his career playing in the men's doubles alongside Henry Searle
‘You can't give me a wildcard into Ilkley,’ continued Evans, who sacrificed his own ranking points to play alongside Murray in the Scot’s final match at the Paris Olympics. ‘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.
‘Listen, I would have loved to play singles. Don't give me some nonsense answer about they're all gone to Ilkley. Come on, guys. That's a total p***-take for me. Excuse my French.
‘If you can't have a conversation and be honest... Listen, if they turned around and say, listen, you've hardly 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 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. That's my point. Are they working this week? I have not seen any of them. Seriously. No one spoke to me this week. No one has congratulated me on my career this week.
‘It was obviously two extra players on the court than how I expected it to finish. But listen, I have enjoyed every time I stepped on court here. We're extremely lucky to have this as our home Grand Slam.
‘It was nice to finish playing with Henry, someone who I have obviously started to work a lot with and see sort of develop a bit. It's a pretty cool way to finish.
‘And, yeah, I have had plenty of time to sort of know it was coming. So, yeah, in a strange way I'm happy it's over. Sort of the door closes, and then another chapter starts.
‘I actually messaged someone a minute ago saying it was quite cool that it was Court 15. I had never been out there. It was all a bit fitting for how the last month has gone for me. It was pretty cool that, you know, the ground passes got on, and I enjoyed every minute of it.’
Charlotte Hornets Updated Draft Capital Following Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball Trades
Charlotte Hornets Updated Draft Capital Following Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball Trades
Where do the Hornets sit after two massive trades?Zach Roberts|
In this story:
Charlotte HornetsThe Charlotte Hornets successfully reworked their roster in a matter of days by trading Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. They managed to turn those two players into Naz Reid, Royce O'Neale, and Grayson Allen for the current roster.
But, as has become the norm for Jeff Peterson, no trade involving the Hornets is complete without somehow adding to the stockpile of assets the Hornets have worked hard to grow. Both trades tweaked what Charlotte has in the coming years.
Note: All draft pick information is via RealGM.
In 2027, the next immediate draft, the Hornets have three first-round picks. Or rather, they could. They own their own pick, but they also have the Dallas Mavericks' pick with a top-two protection and a lottery-protected first-rounder from the Miami Heat.
In 2028, they could have two picks. They own their own (or a pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves), and if the Heat pick in 2027 doesn't convey, so if the Giannis Antetokounmpo experiment blows up and sends Miami to the lottery, the pick becomes unprotected in 2028.
The Hornets own just one pick in 2029, and it's a doozy. They will end up with the least favorable pick of the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves (top-five protected).
In 2030, 2031, and 2032, the Hornets have one pick each. In 2030, they have the rights to a pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Finally, in 2033, the Hornets have three picks. They own their own selection, and they also have the Phoenix Suns' and Minnesota Timberwolves' picks. Those two are unprotected.
Now for the second-round picks, some of which are convoluted. These are obviously less valuable, but having a treasure trove of them is how teams often make deadline deals. The Hornets used a few to get Coby White last season, for example.
The Hornets have one second-rounder in 2027. It goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder if the San Antonio Spurs land in the lottery in 2027 or to the Sacramento Kings if the Spurs are outside the lottery. The pick they keep would then be more favorable between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers.
In 2028, Charlotte has two picks, one of which is the more favorable pick between the Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers. Another goes to the Detroit Pistons, but they own the Orlando Magic's pick, too. They could also come away with another here. If the Mavericks' first-rounder in 2027 doesn't convey, it becomes two second-rounders.
Then, they have their own 2029 pick as well as the Denver Nuggets' second-round pick if the Nuggets have conveyed a first-round pick to the Thunder by then. Like I said, convoluted. They can also get the more favorable pick between the Atlanta Hawks and Heat. If the Wolves convey a first-rounder to the Jazz by 2029, they'd also get a pick.
2030 looks like this:
- Their own pick if it's 31-55 (otherwise goes to Boston Celtics)
- The more favorable pick between the Jazz and Clippers
In 2031, things are more straightforward. The Hornets own their own pick as well as the Bucks' pick and the Suns' pick.
2032 sees the Hornets with the same exact scenario, except this time, they own the Timberwolves' pick instead of the Suns', but they still have Milwaukee's pick and their own.
Finally, in 2033, the Hornets have their own pick and the Timberwolves' selection.
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ZACH ROBERTSZachary Roberts is a journalist with a wide variety of experience covering basketball, golf, entertainment, video games, music, football, baseball, and hockey. He currently covers Charlotte sports teams and has been featured on Sportskeeda, Yardbarker, MSN, and On SI
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