I guess we'll know next week if Dan Evans also withdraws from the Challenger tournament he originally scheduled after Istanbul (also in Turkey, I believe) whether this non-appearance was on compassionate grounds.

After the "events" just prior to Wimbledon, and then during the tournament itself, I just wonder whether his final bridge has been burnt, and this is a reaction or a direct consequence. I'm probably wrong, but nothing in the tennis world of Dan Evans tends to be simple and straightforward.

Meanwhile Ed is 3-5 down in set 1 against a player ranked in the 800s, which is disappointing, but plenty of time to sort things out.

L32:  (Q) Mikhail Ledovskikh (RUS) WR 860 defeated Ed Corrie WR 340 by 6-3 7-6(4)

Updated with new rankings - Ed's opponent actually dropped off the ranking list today, though was already sure to rejoin next Monday having come through qualifying.

L32: Ed Corrie WR 337 lost to (Q) Mikhail Ledovskikh (RUS) UNR (CH 151 in 2008) by 6-3 7-6(4)
L32: (Q) Dave Rice WR 445 v (8) Mikail Kukushkin (KAZ) WR 191 (CH 49 in 2012)
L32: Brydan Klein WR 278 v (WC) Anil Yuksel (TUR) WR 1106 (CH 920 in May 2013)

RJA wrote:

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Disappointing result, albeit first match on hard courts for several weeks.

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 To be fair Ed has hardly won a match since those UK futures, mainly due to the injury. I hope it's just a loss of confidence and a couple of wins will turn that round.

RJA wrote:

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korriban wrote:

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I guess we'll know next week if Dan Evans also withdraws from the Challenger tournament he originally scheduled after Istanbul (also in Turkey, I believe) whether this non-appearance was on compassionate grounds.

After the "events" just prior to Wimbledon, and then during the tournament itself, I just wonder whether his final bridge has been burnt, and this is a reaction or a direct consequence. I'm probably wrong, but nothing in the tennis world of Dan Evans tends to be simple and straightforward.

Meanwhile Ed is 3-5 down in set 1 against a player ranked in the 800s, which is disappointing, but plenty of time to sort things out.

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Given the circumstances I don't really want to speculate too much on Evo's short term plans but I wouldn't be overly concerned if he pulled out of next weeks challenger in Turkey. If he doesn't appear at Lexington the week after I would be a little concerned. As for the "incident" at Wimbledon, if it was as bad as was made out on this site I simply can't believe that it hasn't been reported in the press. Do you really believe that "British Number two acting like a drunken yob on Henman Hill" isn't the kind of story that several papers would like to run.

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The newspapers have a difficult balancing act: they love scoops and dramas, but also need ongoing access to the LTA and the great and the good of British tennis. When Dan performed so well at Queen's, beating 2 top 100 players and pushing his ranking to the cusp of 250, but was NOT awarded a Wimbledon MDWC, it would have been obvious to everyone in the press that "something" must have happened, even without digging. But it was also clear from tweets of several GB tennis pundits at that time that whatever "happened" was widely known about in the community anyway. [I recall several tweets discussing whether Dan should be given a MDWC but give his R1 prize money back to the LTA....even though no reasons were given why he would need to do so!!!!!] The press either chose not to publish or were asked not to publish; and I suspect the same has happened again about Dan's day out during Wimbledon. Not a whisper. Nothing.

It wouldn't surprise me that the LTA have gone out of their way to impose a press "force field" around Dan, because he is a gifted player receiving support above and beyond from the LTA, and should he turn the corner, change his ways, and make it big, they could rightly use this as an example of how they helped a player to step-change his attitude, and use the press to help them tell the story. However, I'm sure if they decide he is beyond saving, they will at some point let the press off the proverbial leash and give them the green light to tell the full story, warts and all. Either way, the press WILL publish at some point, but it could be run as a good news or bad news story, depending on how things pan out with Dan.

By the way, with a family bereavement, I'd be surprised if Dan hadn't withdrawn from Istanbul. And RJA, you may be right that he may also decide to rethink his medium term itinerary.

But I just have this feeling that something is about to go pop between Dan and the LTA. With the feel good factor of Andy's Wimbledon triumph, Kyle's emergence, and the fact that the Croatia DC tie is on clay (so James Ward, Alex Ward, and Kyle would all probably get the nod ahead of Dan anyway), suddenly he needs them a lot more than they need him.......

paulisi wrote:

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RJA wrote:

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Disappointing result, albeit first match on hard courts for several weeks.

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 To be fair Ed has hardly won a match since those UK futures, mainly due to the injury. I hope it's just a loss of confidence and a couple of wins will turn that round.

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After Ed's loss to Marchenko at Wimbledon qualifying both he and his coach (his older brother David) looked pretty dejected, which given his excellent performance they really shouldn't have been. I assume it was probably the disappointment of Ed's grass season being made up of three good performances but 3 defeats. Hopefully they, Ed in particular, don't dwell on such things for too long.