Dan Evans slammed the Eastbourne Open for snubbing British players on Centre Court after becoming the last home singles player to be knocked out. The Davis Cup star beat No.2 seed Tommy Paul on Wednesday evening – the second time he has beaten a top-20 player in the last few weeks following his victory over Frances Tiafoe at Queen’s Club.
But the British No.5 was furious to be sent out for his quarter-final against lucky loser Jenson Brooksby on Court One and he lost 6-2, 6-3. Billy Harris went out 7-6, 6-1 to the French world No.20 Ugo Humbert in the first match on the same court. Evans, who was slapped with a code violation for kicking the cover off a courtside microphone, said: “I have questions [as] to why no British players on Centre Court today.
“Whether it be me, Billy, a doubles — the British fans come here to watch British players, they don’t come to watch anybody else. It’s just a fact.
“It’s not about me personally, I don’t think it would happen in another country, and it’s just disappointing that it happens here.”
Evans, who has a wildcard for Wimbledon, added: “It was really difficult conditions; Jenson played a good match, he was probably better than me today.
“It was a very quick turnaround. It was not easy but that’s tennis, you have to recover and get back out there.
“I’m not sure what time he finished yesterday but I think it was a lot earlier than me and it just felt all very quick today.”
Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova is an injury doubt for Wimbledon after withdrawing from the Eastbourne Open due to a thigh problem.