Dan Evans Announces Retirement Following Wimbledon
Dan Evans, former British number one and two-time ATP Tour title winner, has announced he will retire from professional tennis after the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
The 36-year-old player was a key member of the 2015 Great Britain Davis Cup team that won the nation’s first title in 79 years. Evans achieved a career-high ATP ranking of 21 in 2023 but has competed in only five professional matches this year, resulting in a drop to 217th in the world rankings.
"This sport has given me everything. The friendships, the experiences, the battles and even the hard days were special in hindsight," Evans wrote on Instagram. "I have loved every single minute of being a professional tennis player."
Career Highlights and Recent Performances
In 2024, Evans chose to forgo defending the 500 ranking points he earned at the Washington Open the previous year to partner with fellow Briton Andy Murray at the Paris Olympics. The duo reached the quarter-finals in what was Murray’s final professional match.
"Representing Great Britain in both Davis Cup and the Olympics remains the greatest honour of my career and something I will cherish for the rest of my life," Evans added. He has represented Great Britain in 28 Davis Cup ties.
Evans’ career has also included a significant setback; in 2017, he was suspended for one year after testing positive for cocaine. He has expressed gratitude towards his family for their unwavering support throughout his career’s highs and lows.
"I'm looking forward to finishing on a high... and giving everything I have one last time," he said.
Wimbledon 2024 begins on 29 June. Evans will need to either qualify or receive a wildcard to enter the main draw. He has not progressed through qualifying rounds at the last three Grand Slam events but was granted a wildcard for Wimbledon in 2023. The tournament’s wildcard committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to decide on invitations for the main draw.
Analysis: Overcoming Challenges to Reach New Heights
Evans’ left forearm bears a tattoo quoting Oscar Wilde: "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future." This reflects his journey, which included a difficult period early in his career when he admitted to taking cocaine, describing it as "shocking" and "the worst thing I have ever done."
Since returning from his ban in April 2018, Evans has maintained a near five-year continuous presence in the world’s top 50 players, surpassing many expectations.
With two tournaments remaining this season, Evans is anticipated to receive a wildcard for the qualifying rounds of next week’s ATP event at Queen’s Club. He will then await the decision of the Wimbledon wildcard committee.
Currently ranked as the British number 10, Evans has reportedly made a direct appeal to the All England Club for a wildcard. His credentials include 28 Davis Cup appearances and two years as Britain’s leading male tennis player.
Looking ahead, Evans is expected to dedicate much of his time to coaching Henry Searle, the 20-year-old who won the boys’ Wimbledon title in 2023.
- Live scores, results and order of play
- Get tennis news sent straight to your phone
