Dan Evans desperate to make his mark at Wimbledon

 BIRMINGHAM'S Dan Evans insists his transformation from promising junior to successful senior is almost complete after being handed a wildcard into the main draw at Wimbledon.

At 19, Evans is the youngest of the four Brits handed wildcards to SW19.

However, Evans has had it far from his own way on grass this season, failing to progress past the first round on his first two outings at the AEGON Trophy in Nottingham and at the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club.

Evans fortunes threatened to change at the AEGON International in Eastbourne at the weekend, after he beat fellow Brit Ahmed El Menshawy 6-2, 6-3 during the first round of qualifying.

But the Hall Green teenager failed to make the main draw at Devonshire Park after slumping to his third loss in four matches 6-3, 6-1 to Canadian Franck Dancevic.

Evans will have his work cut out to make the second round at the All England Club but believes his grass court form to date will count for nothing.

"I've just got to go away and play some tennis and get to the gym, I'm not going to work on anything specifically so I've just got to hit balls and prepare as well as I can for Wimbledon," said Evans.

"It's fantastic to be given a wild card into the main draw at Wimbledon. I'm really grateful to the All England Club for giving me this chance and hopefully I can do well.

"It's great that they're giving young players like me the chance to play at Wimbledon - it gives us so much valuable experience and I can't wait to get there and play.

"If everything goes to plan then I should do well - it's the highlight of the year and I'm really looking forward to being a part of it."

Evans is no stranger to the corridors of SW19 having reached the last 16 of Junior Wimbledon 12 months ago - his last outing before stepping  up to the senior circuit full-time.

The former St Peters School pupil has since gone on to claim three Futures titles and his first Challenger crown on his specialist hard court surface.

But Evans admitted he will treat the dressing room at the All England Club no different to those on the Futures and Challenger circuits.

"I don't have any specific goals, I just want to go out there and do my best, play aggressively and hopefully take the chances when they come my way," he added.

"I've played the juniors there before and it is always a special atmosphere. Playing in front of your home crowd really gives you a boost and makes you up your game so I can imagine it will be even better in the men's event."

* Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grass roots to world class tennis events. For tickets and further information visit www.lta.org.uk