Glasgow wild card for Evans
DAN EVANS was yesterday given a privileged wildcard entry into this month’s Glasgow Challenger event, with a warning he could be asked to take a drugs test at any time.
The latest episode in the former British No 2’s turbulent career will play out a week on Saturday when he returns at Scotstoun, thanks to an invitation from the governing body.
A year after Evans tested positive for cocaine, the Lawn Tennis Association are to give the former world No 41 a place in the qualifying rounds, despite worries it may send the wrong message about drug-taking.
The LTA have form in this area, having offered Maria Sharapova a wild card into the main draw of the WTA Tour event in Birmingham last year.
After that, they could hardly refuse Evans’ request — even though his breaches of discipline reached a new low at the Barcelona Open where he gave a sample that showed cocaine in his system.
The LTA insist they have made rigorous assessments of his physical condition. These include the threat of random tests and demands that Evans meets targets.
His ban expires on Monday and the LTA could have left him to enter bottom-tier Futures events. Instead, they appear to have opted for what some would see as a compromise.
Ethically, if the governing body are offering a privileged entry to assist his efforts to come back as quickly as possible, why not allow him to return straight into the main draw, where useful ranking points are on offer?
Recent sightings of Evans, who has been training mainly in Bath and Birmingham, suggest he is in good shape and has been taking his preparations for a return to the sport seriously.
Approaching 28, Evans is unusually talented. He also boasts an aesthetically pleasing playing style and still has time to reach the highest level.
‘I have learned a lot about myself in my time away from the game,’ said Evans. ‘I am committed to training hard and getting back to where I was. If there is a lesson to be learned here, it’s that it is every athlete’s responsibility for what they put into their bodies.
‘I am grateful to those who have stood by me, the fans and the LTA for the opportunity to compete again.’
The LTA were keen not to be seen sending out a mixed signal. Performance director Simon Timson said: ‘The LTA condemns any form of doping, which has no place in our sport.
‘We have been having regular contact with Dan and he has shown genuine commitment to getting his tennis career back on track.’
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic surged back to form at the Monte Carlo Open yesterday — then denied he and former coach Andre Agassi had fallen out.
The Serb routed compatriot Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 6-1 in the first round, cutting a contrasting figure to the one who lost opening matches at last month’s ATP Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami.
Despite Agassi taking the first step in announcing their split, stating that they had ‘agreed to disagree’ too often, Djokovic insisted he remains on good terms with the Las Vegan.
‘Nobody offended anybody,’ said Djokovic, although he did admit he tried to come back from minor elbow surgery too soon in America.
‘The elbow was still not as good as it has been in the last ten days. Indian Wells, Miami, especially Indian Wells, I wasn’t ready physically. So Indian Wells and Miami were a struggle for me mentally.
‘I know that I can play much better than that, but I couldn’t. I just wasn’t ready.’ Referring to Agassi, he said: ‘We didn’t have any commitment or contract. He was helping out. He was wanting to help and give me advice and share his experience with me.’
The former world No 1 is back with coach Marian Vajda, at least on a temporary basis.
‘We both enjoyed the last ten days of practice we had a lot,’ said Djokovic. ‘He knows me better than any tennis coach I’ve worked with. He’s a friend.
‘He’s always there for me. He knows me inside-out.
‘He knows what I need in order to get to the highest possible level of play. We could not ask for a better start.’