British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

greeny12 wrote:

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Dan has unleashed! From the Telegraph:

Dan Evans accused the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) of a total p---take and of presiding over nothing short of a shambles in a scathing parting shot after his final professional match.

In his most ferocious attack yet on the decision to snub him for a singles wild card on his Wimbledon swansong, Evans claimed he had been given no reason for being overlooked and that no-one from the LTA had congratulated him personally on his career.

The 36-year-old lashed out following a tearful first-round exit in the mens doubles alongside Henry Searle, as the British pair were beaten 6-2, 6-4 by ninth seeds Hugo Nys and Édouard Roger-Vasselin.

Evans, who was also denied wild cards for the HSBC Championships at Queens and the Ilkley Open, said: Nobodys 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.

Its pride, isnt it? I dont know. Is that the word? And if youre not going to do that, and its certainly not Jamie Bakers job to come and give me the reason why he didnt give me a wild card. Its not the tournament director to do that.

I just think somebody could have come and sat down and spoken. Like, jeez, I paid enough. Like, thats their job. And thats all.

Im not angry but, jeez, tell the truth or, like, you cant give me a wild card into Ilkley? The reasoning was they were all given out. I have been playing tennis for 16 years on the tour, and I have always known that the wild cards arent given out on a Monday.

Dont give me some nonsense answer about theyre all gone [in] Ilkley. Come on, guys. Thats a total p---take for me. Excuse my French.

etc etc

Asked how he expected to feel on his first morning after retirement, Evans replied: I can tell you what Ill feel: hungover.



Never change, Dan!

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