This would appear to mean that both Ward and Baker would need to be in the top 250 by June 7th, problematic for both, particularly James with the points that he has coming off, to be recommended for MD WCs by the LTA. The exception re younger ( unspecified ) could maybe apply to Dan but I highly doubt James or Jamie.
In addition, we have read the above to mean a total of 8 recommended MD plus Qualifying WCs ( before the additional two play-off ones ) which would maybe mean say Rice or the Wardinator missing out.
Guess the All England Club could theoretically be generous over and above the LTA's recommendations. Don't know how that works politically
We do have the issue re Wimbledon of the LTA's specified basis for recommendations for WCs this year
surely they are going to have to scrap that. it makes no sense given the current situation in the mens side.
I don't know, I was merely being a messenger with a reminder of the LTA's 250 ranking recommendation for MD WCs and "the only exception" being younger players who had peformed particularly well prior to the championships.
The top men may not have performed as well as we wished but this was not an impossible to predict scenario and the LTA now maybe have a dilemma.
At the moment, surely only Dan Smethurst at a pinch looks like a younger player who has performed particularly well. No other younger player I'd say qualifies and you would go too young to find any that could be said to be performing exceptionally for their age. I know the LTA do mention such as professional attitude and behavior as well, but to be seen as performing particularly well actual results must surely be most important. I also know that they have not apparently specified "younger" but this was surely not meant to include such as James and Jamie. For such as them it was the 250 target that was meant to be the one that applied.
It's quite err "brave" to come out as clearly as that ( well, re the 250 and only exception ) and it'll be difficult to avoid some egg on face either by having to change the recommendations or being seen to only have say one British MD wildcard. Or maybe two, since should have Boggo too, he blooming satisfies their recommendations and is so far ahead of the third best GB player. In fact if Boggo doesn't get one and they change / drop / fiddle with the recommendations to allow others to get MD WCs it'll be a farce.
Spin your way out of this one Mr Draper and try and argue that there is real progress in the men's game