Dan Evans: 'Heartbroken, worried' Briton could miss Wimbledon and Olympics after injuring knee at Queen's
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Published 18/06/2024 at 21:28 GMT
Dan Evans' hopes of playing at Wimbledon and the Paris 2024 Olympic are hanging by a thread. The 34-year-old, who was due to play doubles with Andy Murray at this summer's Games, has been forced to retire from his first-round match at Queen's with a knee injury after he slipped behind the baseline during his match against Brandon Nakashima. He says he is "worried" about the MCL problem.
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A "worried" Dan Evans admits he could miss Wimbledon and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after being forced to withdraw from Queen's with injury.
The 34-year-old slipped on the grass during his first-round match against Brandon Nakashima.
He required heavy treatment to his knee, but was unable to continue and was forced to retire.
The incident comes less than two weeks before the third Grand Slam of the year is due to get underway at SW19.
And Evans has confessed he does not know if he will be fit in time to play.
“I’m heartbroken at the minute,” he confessed.
“It’s probably the worst thing you can do on the grass. [Your leg goes one way and] Your body goes one way. 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."
Evans has been named in the Great Britain squad for the Olympic Games later this year.
He is due to play in the men's doubles tournament, pairing up with Andy Murray, in Paris.
Indeed, the pair were set to play together this week at Queen's.
But his participation at Roland-Garros is now in doubt, adding to a frustrating year for the 34-year-old, who had lost his last seven matches on the ATP Tour.
“I heard a crack in my groin, but that seemed to be okay. I think it’s MCL [the medial collateral ligament].
“I’ve got to wait 48 hours, let it settle, and then get a scan. Yeah, I’m worried. I’m in limbo a bit."
The match was level at one set apiece when Evans was forced to retire.
The British No 3 had taken the first set 6-4, but was pegged back in losing the second 6-3.
He is not the first player to struggle with the surface at Queen's this year, as Francis Tiafoe has also had to withdraw following a heavy fall.
Evans refused to blame the courts, but continued: "If I miss the Olympics or Wimbledon, it would be a tough one to swallow, no doubt.”
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