Dan Evans provides injury update after being forced to retire at Queen's Club

By Abi Curran

Birmingham tennis ace Dan Evans is focusing on the positives after he was forced to retire from the LTA’s cinch Championships with a right knee injury, following a slip on court.

The 34-year-old dropped out of the retired in the first game of the third set of his singles match and subsequently withdrew from the doubles at The Queen’s Club and is worried about his prospects for Wimbledon and this summer’s Olympics.

Former British number one and Queen’s wildcard Evans was looking for his first tour win since March and shot out of the blocks against opponent Brandon Nakashima, going 4-1 up before taking the first set 6-4.

He lost the second 6-3 before an awkward slip at the back of Court 1 cut short his Queen’s campaign, also ending his doubles hopes with partner Andy Murray.

He said: “That's probably the worst thing you can do on the grass, your body goes one way, and we have all seen that sort of motion before.

“You wince if you're watching, and you hope it's not too bad if it's happening to you.

“Touch wood, I have been lucky with injuries, and the last one was a difficult one, but coming back, there are positive signs, and there are obviously negatives, as well.

“Andy might get another few matches here, and obviously I have not let him down. But I'm not fit to play. Hopefully he keeps going in the singles.

“Yeah, there are a few ways you can cope with it, I guess. I'm heartbroken at the minute, to be honest. It's tough."

The 2021 Queen’s quarter-finalist was hoping to secure his 150th tour-level career win and break a seven-match tour-level losing streak.

It was not meant to be in west London but Evans, who had a career-high ranking of 21 in the world last summer, is not giving up on the rest of the grass-court season.

He is adamant he does not want to let potential Olympic doubles partner Murray down after returning following a calf injury in October.

He said: “I just slipped so we’ll see a bit more in the next 48 hours, I’ll get a scan but that’s one of the tough parts of grass-court tennis, those things can happen.

“When there is no sun, that is what grass-court tennis is, it can be a bit more difficult to move.

“It was a cloudy, overcast day, some parts of the court don’t get played on that much and that’s part and parcel of the grass.

“I’m worried [about Wimbledon and the Olympics] no doubt, I settled down straight away and heard a crack in my ground, that seemed to be okay.

“I’m worried, that’s the bottom line, it’s frustrating after October and if I miss the Olympics or Wimbledon it will be a tough one to swallow.”

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website