Dan Evans over and out: Defeat in Wimbledon qualifying ends magnificent singles career

Dan Evans singles tennis career is over, but not in the way he would have wanted to bow out. Losing 7-5, 6-0 in the second qualifying round of Wimbledon against Tristan Schoolkate, his tennis career has come to a swift end.

Ahead of the championships on home soil, Evans shared his intentions of retiring from the sport following one last venture to Wimbledon. Hopeful of getting a wildcard, he was surprised to see his name missing from the list.

Ranked outside of the top 200, he was nowhere near qualifying automatically and because of this disappointment had been forced to come through qualifying for the tournament.

He won his first match in Roehampton 7-6(2), 6-3 against Bolivian Juan Caralos Prado Angelo which set up a tie against the 28th seed Schoolkate. It would be a match dominated by an interruption in play with the heat taking centre stage.

Schoolkate took an ominous 3-0 lead early on, but the damage was swiftly reversed with Evans back level. He missed a solitary break point to go 6-5 ahead and to serve the set out. Schoolkate was more clinical when his chance came along, firing himself ahead.

Play was then suspended for a period of time after an electrical problem was dealt with following sweltering temperatures in London. Play resumed eventually with the second set a one-sided affair. Schoolkate dropped just five points in the opening five games enroute to a 5-0 lead, reacting better after the break in play.

Evans was more competitive in the sixth and final game, but still dropped two match points on serve in which Schoolkate eventually took. He powers on, now one win away from debuting in the main draw at Wimbledon. For Evans, his singles career is finished with a whimper.

Schoolkate had some nice words to say afterwards. "It wasn't an easy match up. I think Dan is a phenomenal player. I wish him all the best, after his career. I looked up to guys like him for a long time. So much of the tennis nowadays is same old, same old, but watching him dink it around, his slice is amazing and he's a great competitor. So many young kids can learn a lot from Dan."

Evans will not be competing at Wimbledon in the singles, but there is a lifeline. He will retire permanently from the sport in the men's doubles event, partnered with Henry Searle.

He has competed five times in the doubles at Wimbledon, failing to make it past the first round. A former Masters 1000 finalist in doubles, he and Searle will be hoping to get a couple of wins under their belt in front of an adoring home crowd set to see the final action from Evans.