British tennis star Dan Evans has criticised the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for lacking "class" and not handing him a wildcard for this week's HSBC Championships at Queen's Club ahead of his retirement.
Evans, who announced he is to retire from tennis after this summer's Wimbledon, was refused a main draw pass into this week's ATP 500 event with the LTA instead opting for Jack Pinnington Jones, Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel.
The 36-year-old made it into the qualifying event, but the former British No 1 lost to America's Marcos Giron in three sets.
Evans, who was part of the British team which won the Davis Cup in 2015, said: "I think wildcards 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's, but that wasn't the way they went.
"They went with some younger guys, and that's their prerogative," said Evans, who has slipped down to world No 244 amid injury woes.
"It's an interesting topic at the minute, isn't it? The wildcards," Evans added. "It would have been a classy gesture to give me a wildcard, but obviously that was lacking on this occasion, and I was in qualifying.
"I entered the qualifying here myself, and I got in last minute. I was offered a wildcard into qualifying here. I was a bit perplexed that the LTA didn't offer me one into main draw, myself, I obviously made [round of 16] last year. It would have helped me a lot to get a few more days of preparation to start main draw, but again, that's up to them, the powers that be."
Evans is now waiting to learn whether the All England Club will offer him a Wimbledon wildcard into the main draw on Tuesday.
He reached the third round at Wimbledon three times, and last year lost to seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in round two.
"I haven't played a bunch of tennis, but again, that's for reasons out of my control," he continued. "I've been injured, and that's the reason I'm obviously retiring, because my body hasn't been great, and I no longer want to put myself through the training.
"I've applied via the All England Club. If they give me one or not, it's not up to me. I'm obviously a temporary member there, so I hope that helps. I use the club during the year. Again, I feel I've done plenty of time helping British tennis, off the court, and on the court, so I hope to get one. But I'm well capable, I'm in off my own ranking into qualifying, and I'm capable of qualifying."
Evans has been working with 2023 Wimbledon boys' singles champion Henry Searle and feels he hasn't been "taken seriously".
He added: "I think what some people have forgotten is I'm a professional tennis player, and I wouldn't be playing if I wasn't prepared or ready to play or fit to play. And that's the thing which is very frustrating at the minute, is that because I've helped another Brit whilst I've been injured, I don't feel like I've been taken seriously."
Your Site have contacted the LTA for the right of reply regarding Evans' quotes.
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