Dan Evans brands LTA 'shambles' after Wimbledon snub
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- Dan Evans, 36, tearfully retired from professional tennis after a first-round Wimbledon doubles defeat alongside fellow Brit Henry Searle on 1 July 2026, then launched a blistering attack on the LTA in his post-match press conference.
- Evans said being denied a Wimbledon singles wild card — forcing him through qualifying — was a 'total p*-take,' and that the LTA also refused him wild cards for Queen's and the Ilkley Open without providing reasons.
- Evans claimed no one from the LTA spoke to him during Wimbledon week or congratulated him on his career in person, despite the organization posting tributes on X featuring quotes from Sir Andy Murray, Tim Henman, and Jack Draper.
- LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd issued a formal statement praising Evans's career, citing his world No 21 ranking, two ATP Tour titles, and Davis Cup contributions, alongside a lengthy tribute article.
- Evans dismissed the LTA's stated reason that Ilkley wild cards 'were all given out' as nonsense given Britain's limited player pool, and challenged the governing body to be honest about its reasoning.
Why it matters: The LTA's public tribute — celebrity quotes, a CEO statement, a feature article — sits in direct contradiction to Evans's account of being ignored in person, exposing a credibility gap between the governing body's PR machinery and its actual relationships with professional players. For a former world No 21 and Davis Cup veteran being denied a farewell singles appearance at his home Grand Slam, the lack of a transparent explanation risks further eroding trust between British tennis's leadership and its active competitors.
