The Scotsman

Wimbledon snub to Evans

● Organisers refuse Brit a qualifying wild card as he returns from drug ban

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Dan Evans will have to go through pre-qualifying after Wimbledon opted not to hand the former top-50 player a wild card either into the main draw or qualifying.

The 28-year-old has been in excellent form since returning from a 12-month ban following a positive test for cocaine, winning 10 of his 13 matches on grass, making him comfortabl­y the most successful British player on the surface so far this year.

In acting on principle, Wimbledon has followed in the footsteps of the French Open, which declined to offer two-time former champion Maria Sharapova a wild card last year on her return from a 15-month doping suspension.

Unlike Sharapova, Evans does still have a route available into the tournament and he will take to the courts of Aorangi Park today with the other lower-ranked British hopefuls in an attempt to earn a wild card into next week’s qualifying tournament. He would need to win six matches to reach the main draw.

The outcome is what Evans expected, with the Birmingham player responding on Sunday to a suggestion his good form could earn him a chance by saying: “I’ve had easily the worst past of any British player. They’ve got their criteria. If I don’t fit it, I don’t fit it.”

Speaking about Evans’ chances on Tuesday, Andy

0 Dan Evans faces a trip to pre-qualifying for Wimbledon. Murray, who has been a vocal critic of players who fall foul of the anti-doping system, offered qualified support to his colleague, saying: “He’s played extremely well the last few weeks. In terms of his level and stuff, he deserves it.

“Whether or not it’s the right message to be sending, I don’t know, but then some would say he’s obviously served his time and should be given a second chance.”

While Evans was overlooked, eight British players have been awarded wild cards into the main draw with a further ten given places in qualifying.

Nineteen-year-old Jay Clarke will make his debut at

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