Queens: Dan Evans criticizes lack of wildcards but still hopes for Wimbledon place

Britain’s Dan Evans said it would have been “a nice gesture” to give him a Queen’s wildcard in his final tournament before he retires.

He announced the 36-year-old last week His professional career is over After Wimbledon.

But the announcement was not enough to get the British Davis Cup’s best player into the main draw for Queen’s hosts.

Evans went to Queen’s in 2026 and played just two tournaments, dropping to 244th in the rankings.

Failing to make the main draw, he instead entered the qualifiers and lost in the first round to American sixth seed Marcos Giron.

Jack Pinnington Jones, Arthur Ferry and Toby Samuel – all ranked above Evans and in the world’s top 150 – were given three wildcards.

“You hope to serve your country enough years to get one in your last tournament at Queen’s, but it wasn’t the way they went,” said Evans, who reached a career-high ranking of 21st in 2023.

“They went with some of the younger guys, and that’s their prerogative.

“Giving me a wildcard was a classy gesture, but it was clearly lacking on this occasion.

“I entered the qualifiers here myself, and I got in at the last minute. I was a bit confused that the LTA didn’t offer me for the main draw.”