Dan Evans is 'an absolute mensch' for playing Olympic doubles with Andy Murray, says Andy Roddick 

One of the biggest story lines heading into the Paris Olympics was Andy Murray’s last hurrah. Opting out of singles, Murray was left with one path to the podium, and that was with countryman and doubles partner Dan Evans.

Evans' choice to stand steadfastly by his countryman's side, which came at a personal cost to his position in the ATP rankings, impressed former world No. 1 Andy Roddick.

“If you want a story of a guy being an absolute mensch for someone else that he just respects and maybe is friends with, I'll lay it out for you: Dan Evans,” Roddick says this week on Served with Andy Roddick.

Roddick's praise came deservedly. Twelve months ago, the Brit won the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, D.C.—the biggest title of his career—but choosing to suit up in Paris meant that he would not have the ability to defend any of those well-earned points at the 2024 edition, played the same week of the Olympics. Evans would've already known that his ranking would plummet more than 100 places.

"By not even taking the opportunity to defend any of those points that he won ... he will now be somewhere around No. 170 in the world in singles, which means going from tour events, going from Grand Slams, going from borderline Masters [1000] series [main draws], getting into pretty much any 250 any 500 event, to now going back to the [ATP] Challengers this fall and playing qualifying for all of those things," Roddick continued.

"Why would you make such a decision not to defend the biggest title of your life? Because you want to pay props to someone you admire and play Olympic doubles for no points, no prize money, with a guy named Sir Andy Murray. One of the coolest parts about this Murray story on top of saying goodbye to a legend is this Dan Evans piece.”

Jon Wertheim, weekly guest of the show, added that there was a lot of uncertainty to the pair's Olympics doubles run to begin with.

“There was no guarantee this was going to happen,” Wertheim said. “If Murray pulled out, this could all have been for naught, but for Dan Evans to forgo these 500 points ... this was a great gesture by him."

“This decision may cost him money, definitely cost him ranking points. Who knows if he gets back in the Top 50? I hope he does after this after this week,” Roddick continued. “Twenty-five years from now, he'll be able to tell people about this this run with an iconic legend of the game, and I guarantee you he will look back and say, 'I absolutely made the right decision for the right reasons.'

"I'm glad it's getting rewarded if not with a medal at least with a memory, and props to Dan Evans. Also, it's the most Murray exit of all time: saving a million match points in the most dramatic way possible. I love every part about this. I loved Rafaraz [the doubles team of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal], I've loved watching the doubles this week in the Olympics.”

After commending Evans for his commitment, and Murray for his Murray-esque exit from the sport, the episode moved onto the main event. Wertheim is not only a frequent guest of this show, but a reporter with 60 Minutes. Roddick opened the floor to Wertheim and producer Mike for a Q&A style interview for the remainder of the episode.

Wertheim questions Roddick about his tennis career, his life now, and everything in between.

The full interview will be released on Tuesday, as the first of a two-part special that was recorded before the Olympic tennis event concluded. This two-part special will feature this pre-recorded take and a later reaction to the medal-winners.

A reminder to Served fans that there is a live show coming up on Aug. 9 in Mason, Ohio, where Roddick guarantees he’ll be having a beer during that show, “100%.”

Mark your calendars and ready your “Twitter fingers": Roddick, unfiltered, is coming your way.