Dan Evans says British tennis ‘papering over cracks’ since Raducanu glory
theguardian.comDan Evans has suggested that the success of Emma Raducanu has papered over the cracks in British tennis as an alarmingly low number of players are present in the French Open main draw this year.
Only three British players will compete in singles at Roland Garros and the absence of Raducanu, who is recovering from surgical procedures to her hands and an ankle, means there are no British women in the main draw of a grand slam singles tournament for the first time since 2009. “They’ve been lucky that they had a grand slam champion and she’s a very good tennis player but the rankings don’t lie, do they?
Men’s or women’s, the rankings don’t lie,” said Evans. “Men’s, not many of us playing qualies, not many main draw. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but there’s way further to go than just the top players.
It’s from the bottom up.” Ten British players were defeated in the men’s and women’s qualifying rounds at the French Open this week, with none making it to the final round.
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