"British Tennis Legend, 36, Takes a Final Swipe After Wimbledon Retirement: 'I Didn’t Have the Minerals'"

DAN EVANS fired a parting shot at Britain’s tennis chiefs as he brought the curtain down on his career.

The Brit, 36, retired from tennis on Wednesday after he and Henry Searle lost in the opening round of the men’s doubles at .

Dan Evans and Henry Searle were beaten in straight sets in their first round match Credit: Getty It brought an end to Evans’ career as he retired from tennis Credit: Getty

The wildcard pair were defeated in straight sets 6-2 6-4 by Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Hugo Nys on Court 15 at SW19.

Evans let rip at LTA bosses after the loss and had a pop at the fact he was ending his career playing doubles instead of singles.

The veteran, who won the with Britain in 2015, was snubbed for a wildcard into the singles at and has not been told why.

Evans said: “I just don’t understand the reasoning for it, and nobody has given me a decent reason.

“If they said: ‘Listen, you’re a bit overweight right now’. No, I’m serious, like if they said: ‘You’re a bit out of shape’.

“But nobody’s had the minerals or however you want to phrase it to come over from the governing body, who I think I have done plenty for, and given me an explanation.

“I think that’s just…it’s pride, isn’t it? I don’t know. Is that the word?

“And it’s certainly not [Wimbledon tournament director] Jamie Baker’s job to come and give me the reason why he didn’t give me a wildcard. It’s not the tournament director to do that.

“I just think somebody could have come and, you know, sat down and spoke. That’s their job.

“You know, are they working this week? I have not seen any of them. Serious. No one spoke to me this week. No one has congratulated me on my career this week.”

Evans, who was banned for a year in 2017 after testing positive for cocaine, has labelled the last month of his career a “shambles”.

The Brit is angry at the LTA for not even giving him a wildcard for a low-ranking tour event in Ilkley and claimed it was “fitting” for his journey to end on one of the outside courts at SW19.

Evans said: “I enjoyed playing for my country more than I can tell you. It’s the best, the best thing ever.

“But the last month has been nothing short of a shambles from them (the LTA). That’s the bottom line.

“I mean, it (my final match) was obviously two extra players on the court than what I expected how it was going to finish.

“I’m not angry, but jeez, tell the truth or, like, you can’t give me a wildcard into Ilkley. The reasoning was they was all given out.

“Listen, I would have loved to play singles, but…we all know why that is. Don’t give me some nonsense answer about they’re all gone at Ilkley.

“Come on, guys. That’s a total pisstake for me. Excuse my French.”

Evans planned to head out into Wimbledon Village after his match and watch England play DR Congo in the World Cup.

Asked how he will be the next day after calling time on his career, he said: “I can tell you what I’ll feel: hungover.

“It seems only right at Wimbledon when you lose you can head into the Village, right? That’s just what 100 other people in the draw probably do.”