Dan Evans faces nervous Wimbledon wildcard wait just 12 months after saying he wouldn't look for a free pass
Twelve months ago, Dan Evans insisted he would not be going to the All England Club cap in hand for a wildcard.
And yet after a stirring defeat of Frances Tiafoe at Queen's Club's HSBC Championships, the world number 199 insisted his years of national service make him worthy of a free pass.
'I would hope the past 15 years has given me a shot at a wildcard,' said the 35-year-old after his 7-5, 6-3 win over world number 13 Tiafoe - a first top-20 victory in two years.
'I'm the first to harp on about the wildcards - it's not just about one week or one match and I haven't been good enough at other tournaments.
'But I've still been professional, still train day in, day out, so I hope that's enough to get me a wildcard. If not, I'll go through qualifying.'
Before Wimbledon last year, Evans said: 'I don't want to be coming back here asking for a wildcard.
'When you're not good enough, I think that's time to let it all go.
'You can remind me of that if I need one next year!'
Well, he does need one - and we did remind him. 'It's all in context,' he said.
'I didn't want to take a wildcard off a younger guy but I don't think any younger players have been ripping up stumps to knock me out of the wildcard spot,' (a fair point).
'So I think I've got a good shot. If I don't, I respect the All England Club. They might go for younger people, which is perfectly fine.'
To my mind, Evans richly deserves a wildcard - more than many who have received them over the years - and it would be a surprise if Wimbledon do not concur when they reveal their selections on Wednesday.
He has spent six months scratching around for Challenger Tour wins in Manama, Glasgow and Ostrava, but one afternoon basking in the adoration of the crowd - and 26 degrees of West Kensington sunshine - made it all worthwhile.
'The toughest part is I have not found my best tennis at those events,' said Evans.
Evans thinks he has a good shot at a wildcard but will respect the All England Club's decision
With no younger players more deserving, Evans is in good shape for a Wimbledon free pass
'I've contemplated it quite a bit being in Barletta in the winter when it's a ghost town.
'The bottom line is I love playing tennis. I have never played for the money.
'You've got to be ready to walk for the door when it opens or an opportunity comes, and that's what I did today.'
Jacob Fearnley, on his Queen's Club debut, joined Evans in the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Aussie qualifier Alex Bolt.
Cam Norrie went down 7-6, 1-6, 6-1 to 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik and, over in Nottingham, 16-year-old French Open junior finalist Hannah Klugman lost 6-2, 6-2 to fourth seed Yulia Putintseva.
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