Dan Evans concluded his 20-year professional tennis career at Wimbledon, marking the end with an emotional farewell after a first-round men's doubles defeat alongside fellow Briton Henry Searle. The 36-year-old, who had announced his retirement in June, was unable to secure a wildcard for the singles tournament and fell in qualifying.
The doubles match on Court 15 saw Evans and Searle lose 6-2, 6-4 to ninth seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Following the match, a visibly emotional Evans signed autographs for the crowd.
Evans' career highlights include being part of the 2015 Davis Cup-winning team, which secured Great Britain's first title in 79 years. He also achieved two ATP Tour-level titles and reached the third round of the Wimbledon singles tournament on three occasions.
"It is just emotional, isn't it? You think of your family and all the sacrifices that we've made. You live out your dreams here," Evans told BBC Sport. "This tournament is what I grew up watching. I remember getting home from school and watching Wimbledon, and I was one of the lucky few that got to play here in the end."
Reflecting on his journey, Evans added, "Everything was worth it. For anybody thinking twice about putting the effort in, I can tell you it is worth it. I've enjoyed every minute I've played on these courts."