Evans delays retirement with Roehampton win

Daniel Evans overcame nerves and a big-hitting Bolivian to reach the second round of Wimbledon Qualifying and postpone his retirement from singles until another day.

The former world No.21 announced earlier this month that he will end his colourful career after The Championships. Evans, now 36, has won two ATP titles and played alongside Andy Murray at his farewell at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He has now slipped down to world No.297 after falling and breaking his wrist in China last September and he has not won a Tour-level match since Washington last July.

But back home on the grass courts of the Community Sports Centre at Roehampton, Evans turned back the clock to beat World No.156 Juan Carlos Prado Angelo of Bolivia 7-6(2), 6-3 in one hour and 41 minutes.

“It was amazing,” the former British No.1 said. “Obviously, I haven't played a bunch of tennis, and I'm stopping, so you don't know if it's your last match or not. I was very nervous at the start, and especially at the end.

“I made the decision (to retire), and I'm happy with that, but I'm not going to lie, in the matches on the grass, it has been difficult to keep my mind on the job, but I did a good job there.

“I'm really happy and proud of how I came through that. He was decent. It's been a difficult season but I've built a career through fighting in my matches, and that's what I did today.”

Evans, who never wears a cap, was given a warm reception on a scorching London day by the 809-capacity Show Court 1. In a tight first set, Prado Angelo, who hit 24 winners during the encounter, broke in the 11th game and served for the opening set before Evans forced the tie-break.

Roger Federer once paid the Englishman the ultimate compliment by claiming it was like facing his “mirror” after beating him at the 2019 Australian Open.

And his running forehand pass to set up four set points in the first set tie-break certainly brought back memories of the eight-time Wimbledon champion in his pomp. A service winner on the next point gave Evans the first set.

Evans served for the match at 5-2 but was broken for a second time before he took his first match point in the following game - and broke for a fourth time - when Prado Angelo framed a forehand long.

Evans, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round of The Championships last year, will face Australian Tristan Schoolkate in the second round on Wednesday.

“I would love to go even further but the five sets are going to be very difficult,” he smiled. “I'm obviously carrying a few extra kilograms so it might be a bit harder!

Evans has been given a wild card into the men’s doubles at The Championships, with Henry Searle, but is playing Qualifying for the first time since 2018.

“It's neither here or there if they gave me a (singles) wild card,” he insisted. “I love the tournament and I wanted just another chance to play the best tournament in the world in any sport. They gave me one in doubles, so I'm appreciative of that.

“When I played Qualifying the last time, it wasn't such a big arena. I'm actually really happy that I ended up playing Qualifying to get a chance to come and play in this amazing atmosphere. Win or lose, it was amazing to get the chance to play here, because they are real fans.”

Among them were the 2023 Boys’ Singles champion Searle, who Evans now coaches and sent back into the shade. “It's probably the hottest day of the year, and he wanted to come and watch me run around, which isn't the smartest,” Evans laughed.

Searle returned later to Show Court 2 to beat China’s Zhizhen Zhang 6-3, 6-4 in only 67 minutes.

The first British winner of the week was Billy Harris who needed 76 minutes to beat Stefano Napolitano of Italy 6-2, 6-2.

“It was definitely better than a long three-set match,” the British No.4 said . “I was a bit lucky that he had that problem with his leg.”

Liam Broady went out 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-5 to Danish No.24 seed August Holmgren.