Doubles wild cards go to Bamford & Goodall and Auckland & Delgado. Surprised Bloomers & Skupski didn't get one, especially with Bloomers getting to R3 last year with Marray. Maybe they could go into dubs qualifying?

Jonnylad, I agree but I don't think it would have made much of a difference even if the LTA had run it. They didn't nominate Goodall, Ward, Slabba etc. so I can't imagine they wanted them to get one.

In fact, it is actually possible that the AELTC (terrible as they are) will give another Brit a chance because they'll get more money that way. It's not like they work for tennis, obviously.

Chardy is a former Wimbledon Junior champion, so I can see why he's got a WC, and Dancevic as Surbiton winner and Malisse because of his pedigree as solid choices for the WC's as well.

Goodall is currently 2nd alternate for qualifying, but given that Boggo and Baker are above him and have main draw WC's, he'll get in direct so doesn't need a qualifying WC.

I think there's still a chance that someone else will get a WC, as with 3 to be given out and only Mirnyi standing out as a potential WC for abroad, they could give Josh, Slabba, Ward etc one, but I don't know yet.

At least we can say that they are starting to stick to their targets though, and show that they mean you have to be in the top 250 to get a WC, rather than ignoring their own guidelines. Maybe seem a bit unfair, but at least shows the players they aren't going to be handed a WC anymore.

Only 3 of the 5 doubles wild cards have been handed out, so still a chance for Bloomfield/Skupski to get one (and I think they might), but I guess they are waiting to see if anyone else wants one first, and if not the 5th will go to Boggo/Baker, or a junior pairing

The issue of the AELTC losing money because of this is a red herring - I doubt that many, if any, casual tennis fans aren't going to show up at Wimbledon now because there isn't many Brits in the main draw. At a challenger/futures it's understandable, but at Wimbledon it will make no difference. We are the biggest fans of the British players, but I wouldn't believe that any of us wouldn't go to Wimbledon if we were planning to go, just because Goodall/Slabba etc haven't got a WC, and it will make little different to the casuals until they see the order of play in their programmes after getting inside the grounds.

Do I agree that only Boggo and Baker have been given WC? Not really, and would like to have seen Bloomers/Slabba/Goodall/Ward/Skupski/Marray given them, but I understand the LTA's decision at saying you must be 250 to get one... and as these players haven't reached that target, it's fair to say they should have to qualify.

And the truth is... do we really think that the Brits would actually win a match (and there's a much better chance of Chardy/Dancevic/Malisse winning one)? I maintain that unless they get a Berlocq style draw, Boggo is the only one who has a chance of winning, and that's only if he shows up on the day

In the long run of things, having a greater or lesser number of Brits in there matters a lot. Most people have an affinity (normally a selfish and even an unfair affinity) for things relating to their country. Of course most people go to see Fed, Nadal, Djoko etc. but there are many others, I'm sure, who go their hoping see a "Brit win Wimbledon".
Although I don't deny that this year even if no Brit plays it won't make much of a difference because most tickets have already been sold, if there are no Brits there for a few years in a row, I guarantee you that Wimbly will be hit.
Will people want to see an event that's played by 127 foreigners every year? I'm not sure. Will a match between two of the world's better footie teams at Wembley attract half the crowd as an England match - no way! It's a different sport, for sure, but herd mentality is the same everywhere.


But I won't put money on the AELTC being smart enough to figure it out!

Have to say i agree with you Helki. Wild cards have been given out for years and over all that time some players have only ever got in by that way and not on their ranking. It would be interesting to see if no wild cards were given out how far the Brits would get. Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis and you have to be good enough. When Josh Goodall qualified there and at the US open later that year he had done it the hard way and earned it. That's the bottom line. In football you don't play in the world cup on a wild card. You have to qualify. James ward has just done himself a power of good over the last few days by qualifying for Queens and then pushing Safin really hard in the 1st round. He had a good attitude about it all as well. If he were to qualify the hard way for Wimbledon say then he would learn such a lot more and even if he then lost in round 1 that is a million times better than say Boggo turning up on a wild card on the first monday and going straight out on a whimper in 3 sets. That's an easy pay check just for turning up, so there is a lot to be said for saying if you are not ranked high enough then qualify and fight your way there like everyone else. That's what a competition is all about. Sounds harsh i know but we can't always blame everything on the LTA/AELTC. The player ultimately has to be responsible for their own determination and desire to succeed. Great champions always have that extra drive to win at all costs and again giving say Boggo a wild card at all 3 events ( Queen's, Nottingham and Wimby) and then him losing 1st round at them all on current form does nothing to improve him. It's just an easy pay check. Fight your way there and you might just find a little of the inner desire needed to succeed.

While I take your point that come Wimbledon pretty much everyone rallies round the Brits.

On the other hand however what is the impact on the public if we give all the WC's to Brits and they all get hammered in straight sets?

Personally I tihnk this is about right, Although I wouldn't have given one to Boggo, with 2 or 3 getting them directly 1 through a playoff and others being given a chance to earn it through qualifying

Actually you get "wild cards" in footie, too. Host nations don't need to qualify and Austria surely wouldn't have got in had they been put into qualies and Switzerland weren't a guarantee either.


Great post, wolfie - best one I've read today.