The Edgbaston Priory Club’s congratulations and best wishes go to its stalwart supporter and international tennis star Daniel Evans on his retirement.
Dan was born and grew up in Hall Green, and joined the Edgbaston Priory at the age of 10 to begin training. His first international victory came only four years later as a member of the winning British team at the World Junior Tennis tournament, and within two years he was at the top of the European under-16 rankings.
Dan has competed at Grand Slams since 2009, reaching the fourth round of French and US Open singles competitions. At his peak he was the British No 1 player, and only 20 others ranked above him in the world. As much as fans found his tennis watchable, opponents were wary: those he beat whilst they were top ten players included John Isner, Andrey Rubelev and Novak Djokovic, then World No 1. He was a member with Andy Murray of the British winning Davis Cup team of 2015 – the only player in the Edgbaston Priory’s long history to hold that accolade – and was chosen by Murray as his doubles partner for the Olympics in 2024, where they reached the Quarter Finals. Murray said on Dan’s retirement that he was “unbelievably talented”:
To have Evo by my side playing the way he did and going about the way he did is an amazing memory. In my dressing room at home I’ve got a photo of the two of us celebrating in unison. Evo is a great teammate. He’s unbelievably passionate, super lively. He was not scared to tell you what he thought or give his opinion.
Evans showed a special level of resilience in his career, including coming back stronger from funding withdrawals, suspensions and injuries, as well as, by his own acknowledgement, not being the tallest player on tour.
Dan Evans’s character is as distinctive as his playing talent. One coach described him as “an enigma”. In a world of sometimes distant and media-focussed sporting celebrities, Dan has remained an approachable, candid and supportive personality, encouraging young players at Edgbaston Priory, joining the celebrations of the Edgbaston Classic’s fortieth anniversary, and competing in the first men’s tournament at the club in recent times last year. One member of staff remarked that as well as his renowned openness and charm, Dan was noted for bringing his breakfast crockery back to the bar!
The staff, Board and all the members of the Edgbaston Priory thank Dan for his service to tennis at the Club, in Birmingham and for Great Britain. We wish Dan a happy and productive retirement from the tour and our very best wishes for the future, and look forward to seeing him again soon.
Matt Cole, Edgbaston Priory Club Historian
