Evans: Raducanu’s US Open win papered over cracks in British tennis
D
an Evans has warned that Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory papered over the cracks in British tennis.
And the British No2 additionally warned that some good showings by British gamers on grass final summer time additionally made issues appear higher throughout the sport within the UK than is the truth.
Evans is one among simply three males within the singles draw for the French Open, which will get beneath method on Sunday, together with Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper. But Andy Murray has opted in opposition to taking part in to concentrate on the grasscourt season, Emma Raducanu is injured and no different British girl has certified.
Asked if Raducanu’s 2021 Grand Slam success had papered over the cracks, Evans mentioned: “Yes. They’ve been lucky that they have a Grand Slam champion and she’s a very good tennis player but the rankings don’t lie, do they?
“I think the grass last year really helped paper over some cracks as well. There were some good results but, if you look at the players who did pretty well on the grass last year, who were wildcards etc., rankings don’t lie. After the grass [this year], there will be a bit of soul searching I imagine.”
Evans has been essential of tennis governing physique the LTA previously and he poured scorn on former LTA efficiency director Simon Timson, who’s now in the same position for lately topped Premier League champions Manchester City.
Recalling a gathering with Timson on his return from a medication ban for cocaine, Evans mentioned: “Simon Timson sat next to me and told me… ‘you are close to finishing your career’. And I said, ‘thanks man’, that was the meeting. And I seem to have done all right since that meeting. He sent me to a psychologist, that was about it.”
Evans put his personal climb again up the rankings from his tennis hiatus right down to laborious work and mentioned that was essentially the most essential ingredient to getting extra British gamers on the planet’s elite.
“I know what it’s like to not work hard and what you get from that,” he mentioned. “And I know what it’s like to work hard and get decent rewards.
“I’m not sitting here saying I know the answers. I have a fair idea of the answers. There’s enough people playing junior tennis. We just don’t help them in my opinion. What I think we need to do it get a bigger pool and just pool it all in and get going. It’s simple maths. Spread the resources more thinly and bring in more people.”