As the tennis world gears up for Wimbledon, one player isn’t holding back when it comes to calling out what he sees as a growing trend in the sport—players blaming injuries, illness, or fatigue for their losses.
Dan Evans, known for speaking his mind, has shared some strong words about the attitude of certain players on tour—and let’s just say, he’s not sugarcoating it.
“Just Shake Hands and Move On,” Says Evans
The 35-year-old British player is clearly tired of hearing excuses after every match.
During a candid chat at Eastbourne, Evans said:
“Honestly, I’m fed up with sportspeople who, when they lose, there’s always an issue.
Just shake the guy’s hand and say well done.”
He continued, pointing out that in today’s game, no one seems to accept being outplayed:
“These days, it’s never that the other person was better. It’s always ‘I was tired’ or ‘I wasn’t well.’”
Fatigue and Packed Schedules Are No Excuse, Says Evans
There’s been a lot of chatter this season about burnout, with several top players calling for a lighter calendar. But Evans is having none of it.
“If you’re sick, you’re sick. That’s part of the job,” he said.
“Tiredness and the schedule? You can take time off if you need it.
But it’s not an excuse for losing.”
Evans added a little tongue-in-cheek jab, saying:
“You always hear people pulling a muscle right after they lose. It’s sport—it happens.”
Evans Reflects on His Own Rough Patch in 2024
Evans himself has had to battle through his share of setbacks.
He’s coming into this year’s Wimbledon healthy and ready to go, but it wasn’t so smooth last time around.
A fall at Queen’s Club in 2024 left him struggling with a knee injury going into the Championships, where he was knocked out in the first round by Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
“Last year was a rush, no doubt about it,” Evans admitted.
“I was behind in my prep—it took longer than expected to recover.”
Playing Through Pain for Olympic Glory
Despite the injury, Evans pressed on and joined Andy Murray for the Paris Olympics—a decision he doesn’t regret.
“In hindsight, playing the Olympics probably wasn’t great for my body,” he said, “but I’ve said it before: that was the best thing I’ve ever done. Hard to top, really.”
Feeling Fit and Ready for Eastbourne and Wimbledon
This time around, Evans feels much more prepared.
Competing at Eastbourne before Wimbledon, he’s hoping to hit the grass with a clean bill of health.
“It’s nice to feel fully fit this year,” he shared.
Still, he admitted to some nerves:
“I was thinking earlier that I might be first or second on that court no one’s played on yet.
Bit of anxiety there—but I’m sure it’ll be alright.”