In a week where British tennis fans were eager to cheer on homegrown talent at Eastbourne, Dan Evans didn’t just lose a match — he lost his cool over what he felt was a major slight.

While both he and fellow Brit Billy Harris reached the quarter-finals, neither of them played on Centre Court, leaving many fans — and Evans himself — questioning the priorities of the tournament organizers.

No British Matches on the Main Stage? Evans Isn’t Having It

Evans didn’t hold back after his straight-set loss to American Jenson Brooksby, calling out the decision to leave British players off Centre Court as “disappointing.”

According to him, it’s something that just wouldn’t happen in any other country.

“I have questions about why no British player was on Centre Court today,” he said.

“British fans come to watch British players, not anyone else. That’s just a fact.”

Instead of showcasing home talent, broadcasters opted to air the conclusion of a previously suspended match between Taylor Fritz and Joao Fonseca, followed by a women’s quarter-final between Anna Blinkova and Maya Joint.

Meanwhile, the all-British doubles semi-final — Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool versus Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski — was tucked away on Court 2.

Scheduling Chaos and Broadcast Politics

Tournament insiders explained that the disruption was due to Wednesday’s match between Fritz and Fonseca being halted by darkness, which forced a reshuffle of Thursday’s schedule.

Since Eastbourne is a joint ATP-WTA event, both tours’ needs were taken into account, and fairness was prioritized — particularly regarding player rest.

Had the Fritz match wrapped up on time, there’s a good chance Evans or Harris would’ve been given the Centre Court spotlight.

But it didn’t — and so they weren’t.

Evans Calls His Own Game “Clueless” in Straight-Sets Defeat

On the court, things didn’t go much better for Evans.

He fell 6-2, 6-3 to Brooksby and later called his performance “clueless.”

He also received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after repeatedly complaining about the line calls, which he believed were way off.

At the net, Brooksby offered a sportsmanlike “Well played,” but Evans wasn’t feeling it.

“Was it? It wasn’t for me,” he replied dryly.

Brooksby Outplays Evans in Tough Windy Conditions

Brooksby, a lucky loser in the tournament, handled the breezy conditions far better than Evans.

He kept his game clean and composed, never faced a break point, and used his deadly drop shot to keep Evans chasing shadows.

Evans, on the other hand, racked up 29 unforced errors and just 11 winners.

It was a far cry from the high Evans had felt earlier in the tournament, especially after his emotional win against world No.13 Tommy Paul, and his earlier victory over Frances Tiafoe at Queen’s.

But this time, everything seemed off — especially when he had to battle through an eight-minute opening service game, only to get broken anyway.

Line Calls, Frustration, and One Supporter’s Cry

Evans grew more agitated as the match wore on, especially after a few close calls went against him.

One particularly controversial shot late in the second set even drew a shout from a spectator: “It was out!”

Evans muttered to himself in frustration as Brooksby broke serve to take a 4-3 lead in the second.

Moments later, the match was over — and so was Evans’ run at Eastbourne.

Harris Also Bows Out After Promising Run

Evans wasn’t the only Brit sent packing on Thursday.

Billy Harris also fell in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1, to fourth-seeded Ugo Humbert.

Harris showed some real grit, clawing back from a 5-2 deficit in the first set to force a tie-break, but Humbert regained control and didn’t let up.

The second set was one-sided, with Harris getting broken early and struggling to recover.

Despite the loss, Harris had a solid run, beating Cameron Norrie and Italy’s Mattia Bellucci earlier in the tournament.

Looking Ahead: Wimbledon Wildcard and Lessons Learned

Despite his frustration and early exit, there’s still a silver lining for Dan Evans — he’s been handed a wildcard entry into Wimbledon next week.

It’s a big opportunity for the 35-year-old, who only recently battled his way back into the world’s top 200.

Now, the question is: can he turn things around and deliver the kind of tennis that gets British fans roaring?

Only time — and maybe a bit more Centre Court exposure — will tell.