Davis Cup standout Dan Evans once considered leaving the Great Britain team due to feeling slighted by a selection choice. The seasoned singles player disclosed this revelation in 2022 after being overlooked for the doubles match.
Evans, a member of the triumphant British squad in the 2015 Davis Cup, expressed disappointment at being excluded from the doubles event, suggesting he might decline future participation in the prestigious team tennis competition. He refuted suggestions that his limited doubles play on the tour affected the decision.
In an interview with i, Evans stated, “It’s disheartening. To be honest, it’s also a bit disrespectful that I have never been chosen to compete in the Davis Cup doubles matches. This is not a slight against the current doubles players – it’s simply that I don’t feel the need to showcase my doubles skills on tour to validate my abilities. When I do play, I usually perform adequately.”
“I believe we should move beyond doubles rankings when selecting players for the Davis Cup, focusing more on play styles that align with the team’s needs,” he added.
His statements came following his exclusion from the doubles lineup at the 2021 Davis Cup Finals in Austria, where he only competed in singles matches while team captain Leon Smith paired Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury for the doubles match. Evans expressed frustration at being repeatedly overlooked despite his willingness to participate.
Evans eventually had the opportunity he desired the following year when he and Skupski secured a victory in their doubles match against Colombia during an away game. Despite Evans losing his singles match, Britain emerged victorious with a 3-1 score, securing their place in the Davis Cup Finals. However, Evans missed the 2023 finale due to an injury.
The 2025 Davis Cup Finals are ongoing without Britain after their elimination by Japan in the initial qualifying round. On Wednesday, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli led the host nation into the semi-finals in Bologna. Despite missing their top players, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, Italy prevailed over Austria.
Former Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini set the tone for Italy by defeating Jurij Rodionov 6-3 7-6(4), while Cobolli secured their spot in the semi-finals with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Filip Misolic.
