Tennis Star Retires
Former World No. 21 Dan Evans to Retire from Professional Tennis After Wimbledon
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Key Points
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Evans’ Instagram post included the line, “This sport has given me everything. The friendships, the experiences, the battles and even the hard days were special in hindsight,” alongside, “I have loved every single minute of being a professional tennis player.”
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Despite reaching a career-high ranking of No. 21 in 2023, Evans had played “just five professional matches” by the time of reporting and had fallen to No. 217 in the world.
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At the Paris Olympics, Evans and Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals in the men’s doubles—described as Murray’s “final professional tournament.”
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TennisHead notes Evans made his professional debut at the 2008 Queen’s Club Championships, where he was given a main-draw wildcard but was defeated 6-1, 6-1 by Xavier Malisse.
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The Sun adds personal context on Evans’ career turning point: it says he served a 12-month suspension for a cocaine ban that “ended in April 2018,” and characterizes him as having “turned his career around” afterward.
Dan Evans, Britain's former world No. 21, announced his retirement from professional tennis on June 11, 2026, saying he will play his final matches at this year's Wimbledon. The 36-year-old Birmingham native made the announcement on Instagram, writing: "This sport has given me everything. The friendships, the experiences, the battles and even the hard days were special in hindsight." Tennis365 reported the post drew widespread praise from fans and fellow players, with many calling him a "legend."
Evans won two ATP Tour titles across a 20-year career and earned roughly $9.3 million in prize money, according to Yahoo Sports. But his recent form had faded sharply. By the time of his announcement, he had played just five professional matches in 2026 and had fallen from his career-high ranking of No. 21 — reached in August 2023 — all the way down to No. 217 in the world.
From Wildcard Debut to Davis Cup Glory
Evans made his professional debut on June 10, 2008, at the Queen's Club Championships. He received a main-draw wildcard but was beaten 6-1, 6-1 by Xavier Malisse, according to TennisHead. It was a brutal start. But Evans kept working, and by September 2009 he had earned a Davis Cup call-up for Great Britain.
His proudest team moment came in November 2015, when Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936. Evans was part of that squad. He went on to represent Great Britain in 22 Davis Cup ties throughout his career, according to the LTA. That record of national service became a central part of his legacy.
Drug Ban, Rock Bottom, and a Remarkable Comeback
In April 2017, while ranked No. 43 in the world, Evans tested positive for cocaine at the Barcelona Open. He received a 12-month suspension. The Sun reported that the ban ended in April 2018, after which Evans returned to competition at a small domestic event in Glasgow — without a world ranking to his name.
What followed was one of the most striking comebacks in modern tennis. Evans rebuilt his ranking from scratch. He won his first ATP title at the Murray River Open in Melbourne in February 2021, beating Félix Auger-Aliassime in the final. Then, in August 2023, he won the ATP 500 in Washington — his biggest career title — and hit his career-high ranking of No. 21, according to Yahoo Sports.
A Final Chapter With Murray at the Paris Olympics
One of Evans' most emotional career highlights came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he partnered Andy Murray in men's doubles. The pair reached the quarter-finals before losing to Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. It was Murray's final professional tournament. Evans later described the experience as the greatest honor of his career, according to Tennis365.
Evans said he aims to finish his remaining matches "on a high" at Wimbledon. He thanked his family — including his father David and mother Bernadette — his team, and his supporters. Jack Draper, now Britain's top-ranked player, publicly praised Evans as a major influence on the next generation of British tennis talent, Tennis365 reported.
What Evans Leaves Behind in British Tennis
Evans retires with a career record of 161 wins and 186 losses in singles play. His style stood out — a one-handed backhand slice and a willingness to serve-and-volley in an era dominated by baseline sluggers. Analysts at TennisHead described his game as a "throwback" that used variety to beat more powerful opponents.
With Murray retired in 2024 and now Evans stepping away in 2026, British men's tennis loses two key figures within two years. Draper leads the current group, but there is limited veteran depth in the British men's top 100. There is speculation Evans could move into coaching, with his tactical knowledge making him a strong candidate for a role within the LTA's elite programme, according to Yahoo Sports.
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