Dan Evans, the 36-year-old British tennis player who recently announced his retirement, has publicly criticized British tennis authorities for not awarding him a wildcard entry to this year’s Queen’s Club Championships. Evans, a former British No. 1 and notable Davis Cup contributor, was defeated in the qualifying rounds by Marcos Giron in what marked his final appearance at the historic Barons Court venue.

Evans expressed disappointment over his omission, suggesting that it would have been a "classy gesture" to grant him a wildcard in recognition of his years of service to British tennis. Despite acknowledging he has struggled with injuries that have limited his playing time this season, Evans said he was “perplexed” by the decision to exclude him from the main draw, particularly as wildcards were instead given to younger players. He believes his contributions on and off the court, including partnering Andy Murray in Murray’s final tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, warranted consideration for the wildcard.

“I think wild cards are a good thing for Brits,” Evans stated, adding that he hoped his years of service to the sport would be enough to secure one in his last Queen’s tournament, but “that wasn’t the way they went.” He noted that although he is currently ranked No. 244 in the world and aware that his injury struggles have impacted his recent results, he is capable of competing through qualifying rounds if necessary.

Evans is now awaiting a decision from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) regarding a potential wildcard for Wimbledon, which begins on June 29 and where he plans to play his final professional matches. He expressed hope that the LTA would recognize his efforts but acknowledged the final choice is beyond his control.

The tournament director at Queen’s is Jamie Murray, brother of Andy Murray, who has also played a prominent role in British tennis. Evans’s comments come amid continuing debate about the criteria used by the LTA to distribute wildcards, balancing the development of younger players with recognition for experienced veterans.

In a related development, Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Nottingham Open, signaling ongoing adjustments in the British tennis landscape as players manage fitness and competitive commitments ahead of the summer grass-court season.