Dan Evans believes aged wisdom key to Wimbledon success
"I've said all along, I would love one more," said Evans. "I have some fourth rounds, but my goal was to make the quarters of a Grand Slam. You don't always reach your goals, but I still believe I have a shot. I have experience. There's been matches in Grand Slams where I've not put my mentality on the court or been nervous. It happens to everybody and that could happen on Thursday.
"I imagine it won't. I'm looking forward to the occasion. I haven't had the chance to play in any sort of arena like that for a long time. I've been playing qualifiers of the Grand Slams and challenger events. Of course I'm lucky to have been inside the top 50 for x amount of years before that, and I got the experience to play on the big courts.
"The difference between your first time out, you don't have the experience about how to prepare, how the day is going to be. I know how it is going to be. I know how I prepare whereas the younger guys or girls, they don't have that experience."
Evans was awarded a wild card in the run-up to Wimbledon, where he was one of 23 Brits to compete in the opening round in men's and women's. And having proven that faith justified, Evans has called on his colleagues to leave no stone unturned in doing the same.
He added: "Twenty-three players in both is an amazing accomplishment for the LTA. It really shows how they're backing their players. Let's be honest, some of the rankings are not of a wild card in the previous years.
"It's amazing that our men and women are getting backed so well but they have to go away now and pay back that faith. Hopefully they think, I want to be here main draw next year than I've got to ask again.
"That's what the wild card is for, to use the prize money, to invest it in yourself, not to sit back and rest on our laurels, which has happened in previous years. We're in a great spot at the minute."
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Emma Raducanu crashes out in straight sets in Montreal
Raducanu had won both of their previous meetings, but rarely looked like extending that run as she held her serve just once in either set. Wimbledon finalist Anisimova came from 40-15 down to break Raducanu's serve in the second game of the match and, although the British number one broke back immediately, she was unable to fashion another break point in the contest. Anisimova broke again to make it 3-1 and added a third break to wrap up the set. Her dominance continued in the second set as Raducanu won just eight points on her own serve, avoiding the whitewash after losing the first five games before Anisimova served out for a place in the fourth round. She will face 10th seed Elina Svitolina or Anna Kalinskaya in the last 16. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek needed little more than an hour to complete a 6-2 6-2 victory over Germany's Eva Lys, but Jessica Pegula's bid for a third straight Montreal title was ended by world number 386 Anastasija Sevastova. The Latvian, a former world number 11 who has had lengthy spells out on maternity leave and with a torn ACL, beat the third seed 3-6 6-4 6-1.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Padel could come to Rotherham under new plans
The dedicated padel tennis centre could open in Rotherham under new plans submitted to the application to transform a vacant industrial unit in Hellaby would see several indoor padel courts built alongside a small cafe and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has supported the proposal, describing the development as a "fantastic attribute for the Rotherham area".The LTA said there were currently no padel courts in Rotherham and praised the facility's potential to boost participation in what it calls the "fastest-growing sport in the world". Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played on a smaller enclosed court, and is designed to be more accessible and sociable than traditional site, Unit 1, Sandbeck Way, is currently a vacant truck park and distribution warehouse which dates back to the 1970s, according to the Local Democracy Reporting to the applicant the building is no longer viable as a warehouse due to modern demands and structural limitations and has stood vacant since applicant said the centre would create up to 12 jobs, including roles for padel coaches, cleaning and maintenance staff, and a full-time site provision would be expanded from the existing 14 spaces to a minimum of 37, with an additional 14 overspill spaces available at the nearby Trinity House unit. Eight parking bays would be equipped with electric vehicle charging would operate from 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 9pm at application is currently under consideration by Rotherham Council's planning department. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Reuters
Defending champion Pegula sent packing by Sevastova at Canadian Open, Swiatek through
Aug 2 (Reuters) - Twice defending champion Jessica Pegula crashed out of the Canadian Open after losing to Anastasija Sevastova 3-6 6-4 6-1 in the third round on Friday, while six-times major winner Iga Swiatek marched on with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Eva Lys. The 35-year-old Sevastova, ranked 386 in the world, will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who took out Latvian 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4. "I don't know," Sevastova said after upsetting third seed Pegula. "Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better. Third set, I played really good. Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible." Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova, seeded fifth in Montreal, carved out a comfortable win over Emma Raducanu, beating the 2021 U.S. Open champion 6-2 6-1. Anisimova's win over Raducanu is her first, having lost their previous two encounters. She will next face Ukrainian 10th seed Elina Svitolina. In the men's draw, American second seed Taylor Fritz made light work of local hope Gabriel Diallo, beating the 27th seed 6-4 6-2. Fritz, who is eyeing a third title of the season after triumphs in Eastbourne and Stuttgart, will next take on Czech 19th seed Jiri Lehecka. "Even the games that I didn't serve my best in, I felt like I backed it up really well from the baseline, so I'm happy with that," Fritz said. American fourth seed Ben Shelton, however, was made to work hard by countryman Brandon Nakashima before managing a 6-7(8) 6-2 7-6(5) win. "It was back and forth," Shelton said. "There were a lot of huge moments, like being able to break back after getting broken in my first service game of the third set. I feel like I showed a lot of perseverance tonight." Next up for Shelton is Italian 13th seed Flavio Cobolli.
