A Davis Cup star once threatened to quit the Great Britain team after being left ‘insulted’ by a selection call. Singles regular Dan Evans made the explosive admission in 2022 after being overlooked for the doubles.

Evans, who was part of the British team that memorably won the cup in 2015, was so unhappy about not being asked to play in the doubles that he suggested he could refuse to represent his country in the prestigious team tennis event. He insisted his lack of regular doubles action on the tour was irrelevant. He told the i: “It’s disappointing. To be frank, it’s a bit insulting also that I haven’t been picked ever to play the Davis Cup [in doubles]. 

“This is meant in the nicest possible way to the doubles guys – there’s nothing against them – but I don’t need to play doubles on the tour to prove how good I am at doubles. When I do, I normally do okay.

“I think we need to look past doubles rankings for a Davis Cup tie and if a game style fits or a game style doesn’t then maybe we should be picking other people.”

Evans spoke out following his snub at the 2021 Davis Cup in Austria, where he was confined to singles action only as captain Leon Smith paired Neal Skupski and Joe Salsbury. Evans said: “I had the conversation [asking to play] in Austria. I played with Neal before for a year to try and play Davis Cup, and didn’t get picked. I’m at a loss as to why I’ve never played.

“It’s frustrating, as I said, and a bit insulting as well. It’s something I have to think about going forward if I want to put myself in that position again, to keep going there, and we’re not getting the right results.

“Maybe I should have a conversation and sit down, and if he [Smith] wants to go a different way, then it’s entirely up to him. He’s the captain.”

Evans eventually got his wish the following year as he and Skupski won their doubles rubber during the away tie against Colombia. Despite Evans losing his first singles match, Britain won 3-1 to book their place in the Davis Cup Finals.

However, Evans couldn’t take part in the 2023 showpiece after picking up an injury. The 2025 Davis Cup Finals are underway without Britain after they lost 3-2 to Japan in the first qualifying round.