THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2025

Daniel Evans

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/D. Evans

6-3, 6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Dan, tough one out there. Give us your thoughts.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, first and foremost, I thought he played very well. Didn't give me much chance to get into the match. You can sit here the other day, and you have to believe you can win.

The bottom line is it's pretty obvious why he's as good as he is on that court. He played good tennis and showed everybody on Centre Court why he's a contender.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When Ollie Tarvet was in here yesterday, he said he wanted to enjoy that because it's not every day he gets to play a player like Alcaraz on Centre Court. Are you able to enjoy that experience at all because it is a big thing, or is it just with the way the match goes, not enjoyable?

DANIEL EVANS: No, I appreciate the chance to play on Centre Court again. Bottom line is I may never get another chance. Yeah, I thought about that on the court.

When you're 35, you've got more perspective than when you're 21. As I said before, I wanted to win the match. I believed I could win the match. I felt confident going into the match.

It's just such a hard task at hand, and that's it. I'm not going to say I enjoyed it or didn't enjoy it. I understand the occasion and what a moment it was for myself to go out there and experience everything today.

Of course, it's disappointing, but I'll look back with a proud happiness. Yeah, it was a hell of an occasion. Of course, I wanted to win the match. It's just very difficult to do that.

Yeah, the last probably four or five games, I really soaked it up, and I did enjoy it, yeah.

Q. Looked like you were really consciously, not running the serve clock down, but taking your time on the service line. Was that more about him or you?

DANIEL EVANS: It's pretty tiring playing Novak.

No, I've always tended to look at the serve clock. Just helps me concentrate and get in sort of more of a rhythm. Yeah, just little cues with the number, whatever it is. Yeah, it just makes me focus a bit more and take my time.

Normally, I always ask where the serve clock is. It sort of gives me something to look at. It's a small thing. Wasn't to do with him or to do with me. It's just sort of a thing I do.

Q. Can you elaborate on Novak's level today? It's not as if you did much wrong.

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I felt like I was always on the back foot. You guys have wrote enough about how good he is. We're all singing off the same hymn sheet. Yeah, just so good coming forwards when he hits a deep ball. He's aware when you're on your back foot, and he'll move you.

I think the big thing is he serves like a big server, but he's maybe 6'1". Today he served spots. I don't think he got over 130, but every serve was a spot. Then you've got his return game, which really sticks you under some pressure.

I'd say, if I had to sum it up, it felt the tennis balls were back in my pocket very quickly and never stayed in there a long time.

Q. I wanted to ask about your friend Andy Murray, who obviously isn't here this year. Some of the younger players are talking about what an inspiration he's been. Does it feel a bit like there's a Murray-shaped hole at Wimbledon this year? Do you miss playing with him, miss him in the tournament?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, I don't know in what aspect, like if he's going to come this year. As a competitor, when somebody retires, you always feel you notice they're gone, whether it's where they used to sit in the locker room...

But yeah, listen, Andy was always around for the British guys and girls. It's not as if he's not in tennis anymore. He speaks to plenty of people. Incredibly supportive of British tennis.

We can't expect him to live his life around tennis when he's done that for the past however many years. He's got a family. He's got kids. He needs to do whatever he needs to do outside of tennis. It's not his job anymore to run British tennis at the forefront as a player. That's been passed over to somebody else.

I think it's great what he did. Now, as I said, it's moved on. He's left such a big legacy.

Q. You said this might be the last time you play on this court. The age you are, the ranking you've got now, how do you go, sort of, on whatever the next few months look like? How do you plan?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah. To be honest, I've been so into this grass season, I've not really scheduled going forward. I need to sit down, I need to look what that looks like. If I want to go away straightaway...

I imagine after these few weeks, this last month, I'll be pretty tired whenever I look back and recap on it. I guess it's important to just take a bit of time, rest.

Yeah, the answer is I've not thought about it, basically. There will have to come a time where I make a plan. Yeah, I imagine qualifying for the US Open will probably be my goal if I had to put a stamp on it now. There's a few things which I could play.

Q. How do you reflect on this grass court swing? You've had some pretty encouraging results. Do you feel like you still have got more to give?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, I think I've got a decent shot against the sort of tier below the top, top guys. Yeah, it's a step up in level today, for sure.

I think I've still got some tennis in me, which was what I was looking for. It's been positive. No real negatives. I would have loved to have took one of the tournaments a bit further on the grass. They're all tough players.

Yeah, I just got to be positive about what's happened the last, I don't know, four, five weeks compared to what has been happening.

Q. Do you feel like the court played okay? A few players have complained it's been a bit slow. Some have said it played like clay.

DANIEL EVANS: Clay? I can assure you Novak's shots did not feel slow today. It was a very good court. No, good court.

Q. The obvious question. You said might be the last time on Centre Court. Any feeling it might be your last time at Wimbledon?

DANIEL EVANS: I don't know. See what this year brings. As I said to David, after certain swings, you sit back and take count of everything. Have to decide at the end of the year. There will definitely be some sort of chat at the end of the year, what I want to do, not with life.

If I'm able to do it. It's not getting any easier, that's for sure. Waking up after playing matches is hard now. I'm not saying I can't walk when I wake up. Yeah, muscles hurt, et cetera. It's just not as easy as it used to be - without sounding Andy Murray-esque dramatic. I can wake up, but it's just not as easy.

Q. Regardless of what you decide, are you glad that your dad was there in the box to see you today?

DANIEL EVANS: I mean, yeah, I guess so. I mean, probably would rather play golf for four hours if I was him, watch that (smiling).

Yeah, it's nice he come back. He come with some friends. Yeah, no, it's good. It's good that, not just my dad, all my friends. We got quite a few friends to come. It was nice. I guess we'll all go for some food and a little drink tonight.

Cheers.