Dan Evans suggests British WTA stars ‘have got too much money’
Dan Evans has claimed that British players ‘pick and choose’ what tournaments they play, suggesting that this could be the reason that no British woman will be inside the world’s top 100 after the Madrid Open has concluded.
Evans is currently ranked ATP No.24, and is the British No.2 behind Cameron Norrie, but has struggled for results this season.
The 32-year-old decided to voice his opinions on the current state of British tennis, after it was confirmed that Emma Raducanu would leave the top 100 following her decision to withdraw from the Madrid Open through injury.
Emma Raducanu has sadly had to withdraw from the @MutuaMadridOpen due to a right hand injury
Hope to see you back on court soon 🙏 pic.twitter.com/z70yOSGUdx
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 26, 2023
“[As a nation], we’re picking and choosing what tournaments we play and we’re ranked 200 in the world,” said Evans. “I’m not going to bag the girls here but no-one played after [GB’s Billie Jean King Cup defeat to France in Coventry a fortnight ago]. There’s some cultural thing about resting and all that. It’s not new. Maybe they’ve got too much money or something.”
“I think players need to compete more week in week out. The players need to get out on the road and just get after it. It’s not like there’s great science behind it. I mean, it can be hard on the tour but you need to be at it.”
Evans added, “I’m never going to say I’m a blueprint but James Ward – when he made it to 80 in the world – was playing in Challengers and Futures events week in week out.”
“Cam [Norrie] learned his trade by playing his matches and being in competitive situations. He’s not got good on the practice court. He plays his tournaments, he sticks to his schedule, he’s never injured – touch wood – and how that’s not a blueprint is beyond me, basically.”
After losing his only match in Madrid in straight sets to Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Evans now heads to Rome for the Italian Open that begins next week.
Dan Evans matches in 2023 compared to his compatriots
Evans has played 20 matches matches in 2023, and this is how it compares to the top four ranked British WTA players and the rest of the top four ranked men’s players:
- Cameron Norrie (ATP No.13): 29 matches (21-8)
- Dan Evans (ATP No.24): 20 matches (8-12)
- Harriet Dart (WTA No.140): 19 matches (6-13)
- Jodie Burrage (WTA No.110): 18 matches (12-6)
- Andy Murray (ATP No.52): 15 matches (8-7)
- Jack Draper (ATP No.48): 13 matches (8-5)
- Katie Swan (WTA No.150): 11 matches (4-7)
- Emma Raducanu (WTA No.85): 10 matches (5-5)
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