Dan Evans has criticised the Lawn Tennis Association for not doing the \u201cclassy gesture\u201d and giving him a wild card at the HSBC Championships.<\/p>\n
Evans, 36, will not be in action at Queen\u2019s Club this week after losing his qualifier to Marcos Giron on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019s, but that wasn\u2019t the way they went. They went with some younger guys and that\u2019s their prerogative.<\/p>\n
\u201cI entered the qualifying here myself, and I got in last minute. I was offered a wild card into qualifying here,\u201d Evans added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a bit perplexed that the LTA didn\u2019t 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\u2019s up to them, the powers that be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t played a bunch of tennis, but again, that\u2019s the reasons out of my control. I\u2019ve been injured and that\u2019s the reason I\u2019m obviously retiring, because my body hasn\u2019t been great and I no longer want to put myself through the training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans aiming for one last hurrah at SW19<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Wimbledon where he hopes to feature.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve applied via the All England Club. If they give me one or not, it\u2019s not up to me,\u201d Evans said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m obviously a temporary member there, so I hope that helps. I use the club during the year. I feel I\u2019ve done plenty of time helping British tennis, off the court, and on the court, so I hope I get one.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m well capable \u2013 I\u2019m in off my own ranking into qualifying and I\u2019m capable of qualifying. I think what some people have forgotten is I\u2019m a professional tennis player and I wouldn\u2019t be playing if I wasn\u2019t prepared or ready to play, or fit to play.\u201d<\/p>\n