Queen’s chance for reborn Evans

LAURA LAMBERT

DAN EVANS has been handed a wildcard into the Queen’s main draw after impressing LTA chiefs with his comeback after a drugs ban. The 28-year-old, who served a year-long suspension for testing positive for cocaine, made his second semi-final in a row at the Nottingham Open yesterday. And despite his chequered past, it seems he has done enough on court to earn the support of the LTA, who announced the wildcards for the Fever-Tree Championships last night. Given the strong line-up at the popular pre-Wimbledon event, which currently features Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov, Evans is likely to face a tough first-round opponent. Briton Jay Clarke, 19, will also be given a wildcard entry to the main draw. Evans’ run of form, which included getting to the semi-final at the Surbiton Trophy last week, means his ranking is set to climb inside the world top 400, regardless of how he does against Marcel Granollers this morning. Evans (right) won 7-6, 6-3 against Canada’s Brayden Schnur yesterday but started a war of words with the 22-year-old. After being accused of moving before Schnur’s serve, he said: ‘We are in the pro tour, not the college tour. You don’t get it all your own way out here, mate.’ Following an exuberant celebration by Schnur, Evans asked the umpire: ‘What is wrong with him? It’s just a good shot, leave it at that.’ Jo Konta, playing her first grass-court tournament of the season, is also into the semi-final after beating Dalila Jakupovic 6-4, 6-2. The British No 1, who beat Heather Watson on Thursday, said she was proud of her performance and faces Croatia’s Donna Vekic today. Brit Katie Boulter went down 6-0, 6-2 against top-seed Ashleigh Barty and James Ward lost 6-4, 6-3 to Ilya Ivashka.