British tennis player Dan Evans will compete in the Wimbledon qualifying draw this week after tournament organizers did not grant him a main draw singles wildcard for his final career appearance at The All England Club.
The 36-year-old former world number 21 announced earlier this month that the upcoming grass-court Grand Slam would be the final tournament of his career.
However, because Evans is currently ranked number 244 in the world, he did not meet the direct entry cut for the main singles field.
Wimbledon organizers instead awarded the final two men's singles wildcards to Great Britain's Felix Gill and Harry Wendelken on Wednesday.
The decision forced Evans into the qualifying bracket, where he is scheduled to play world number 157 Juan Carlos Prado Ángelo of Bolivia in the first round.
Evans' Frustration with Wildcard Decisions
Evans previously expressed dissatisfaction regarding a similar wildcard snub at the Queen's Club Championships, where he only received a qualifying wildcard from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
"I’m looking forward to finishing on a high across these final two tournaments and giving everything I have one last time," stated Evans.
Following that statement, the British veteran publicly questioned the local governing body regarding his exclusion from the main draw of his final lead-up events.
"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...
I was a bit perplexed that the LTA didn't offer me one into main draw, myself," said Evans.
The Bolivian junior standout recently won his first ATP Challenger title at the Lima Open in Peru.
If Evans defeats Prado Ángelo, the British veteran will progress to face either fellow countryman Johannus Monday or 28th seed Tristan Schoolkate in the second round of qualifying.
A potential final-round qualifying matchup for Evans would feature one of Henrique Rocha, Nicolás Mejía, Tseng Chun-hsin, or Gustave Heide, with Rocha holding the highest ranking as the ninth seed in the qualifying tournament.
While Evans looks to secure a singles main draw berth through the qualifiers, he remains guaranteed a spot in the tournament after accepting a doubles wildcard alongside Henry Searle.
Tennis fan accounts on Instagram noted that Evans previously sacrificed defending his Washington singles title in 2024 to play Olympic doubles with Andy Murray.
The main draw ceremony for the tournament is scheduled for Friday, June 26, at 10 a. m.
British Summer Time, as reported by journalist Michal Samulski.
Top seeds Jannik Sinner and defending women's champion Iga Swiatek will learn their tournament paths during the draw, with Sinner heavily favored due to the absence of Carlos Alcaraz from the 2026 event.
