Wild Cards

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Wild Cards

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, interesting the top 250 / top 150 divergence between men and women. Now, I know there are arguments that can be put as to how competitive a WR 250 woman is relative to a WR 250 man, and I make no particular call on that. Just a bit surprised that that one got through.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I don't know who is complaining about Llodra, but it should only be other French guys - it's the reciprocal wild card that he gets, so it is only another Frenchman he displaces. I think it is mainly a "pity" card as I believe he is thinking of retiring.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Madeline wrote:
I don't know who is complaining about Llodra, but it should only be other French guys - it's the reciprocal wild card that he gets, so it is only another Frenchman he displaces. I think it is mainly a "pity" card as I believe he is thinking of retiring.

Yes, as you say, the French and the US have their reciprocal arrangement. So a french WC is guaranteed.

But most of the French are furious (not just the actual players who have maybe been overlooked) that Llodra was chosen.

And there are quite a lot of replies/messages from other nationalities also saying it's a disgrace.

A Roland Garros WC is seen as justifiable, if you're going to retire - a chance to have say your goodbyes, if you will, at your home tournament.

But no one understands blatant preferential treatment at the US open, when so many younger players are trying to make a go of things, need points, need pay cheques AND are ranked well higher than Mika anyway !

RJA · Hall of fame

Llodra has brought so much beauty to tennis courts over the years that I can't possibly complain about this decision.

Spectator · All-time great

Just to note the first-round victories from the two winners of the USTA's national playoff, which seems to involve regional and then national tournaments, whose ultimate winners (one man, one woman) get WCs into qualies. Both then lost in the next round (though Singh's match was very, very close) - but it looks like a good way to do a WC into a home slam. Open, so that anyone can play, but rigorous enough that winners can actually be competitive. And, since it's open to any member of the national association, not limited to home country players (if the national association permits non-home-country members).

PaulM · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
Just to note the first-round victories from the two winners of the USTA's national playoff, which seems to involve regional and then national tournaments, whose ultimate winners (one man, one woman) get WCs into qualies. Both then lost in the next round (though Singh's match was very, very close) - but it looks like a good way to do a WC into a home slam. Open, so that anyone can play, but rigorous enough that winners can actually be competitive. And, since it's open to any member of the national association, not limited to home country players (if the national association permits non-home-country members).

Similar to how Emily and Gabi won pre-qualies and then won their first matches at Wimbledon Qualifying.

indiana · Tennis legend

Maybe Wimbledon could arrange some regional qualifiers with national finals, offering the winners or finalists WCs into the qualifying play-offs ?

The road to Wimbledon for any club player / maybe even anyone....

PaulM · Tennis legend

They could do it by making it a 32 player draw I guess, give the top 8 seeds byes and then have 8 regional qualifiers.

Spectator · All-time great

PaulM wrote:
Similar to how Emily and Gabi won pre-qualies and then won their first matches at Wimbledon Qualifying.

Exactly ... but with the added bonus that it's not just the top players (including one who already met the standards for a QWC anyway!) playing. We know that those QWC playoffs exist and they engage us but I doubt they really engage people across the country. But if, as Indy says, you could have a "Road to Wimbledon" which meant that any LTA member could have a go at getting into a regional tournament ... and then as you say, the regionals could feed players into an expanded version of the national playoffs, it might catch the imagination and inspire far more interest in tennis in general.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Similar to how Emily and Gabi won pre-qualies and then won their first matches at Wimbledon Qualifying.
Exactly ... but with the added bonus that it's not just the top players (including one who already met the standards for a QWC anyway!) playing. We know that those QWC playoffs exist and they engage us but I doubt they really engage people across the country. But if, as Indy says, you could have a "Road to Wimbledon" which meant that any LTA member could have a go at getting into a regional tournament ... and then as you say, the regionals could feed players into an expanded version of the national playoffs, it might catch the imagination and inspire far more interest in tennis in general.

I think that's an excellent idea.

Especially as (and as alluded to in a junior thread) I don't believe the UK has national championships for regular players ? Does it ? Unlike France and other European countries where there are county, regional and national championships for all, by category i.e. all the unranked and LTA 10 players, all the LTA 9 and 8 players, etc. etc. (As well as age categories for over 35s).

SO there's nothing national for the competitive individual apart from the very, very top players ?

So, given how Wimbledon obsessed the country is, a 'Road to Wimbledon', open to all, starting at country level, would be a brilliant idea !!!!!!! the local media would love it.

To get more youngsters into the sport (emphasis on sport, not leisure), you need more adults - kids follow their parents, and older siblings. It's all a numbers game.

sherbert · Lower Club Player

I can see what you are all saying about the WCs being given to players for Wimbledon - but for the players themselves it not only helps to fund them for a year, but gives them that opportunity to have a shot at 'making it'.
We have the tournament in Britain so surely it makes sense to give the opportunities that are available to British players who are just outside of being up there in the mix? The Americans, Australians and French certainly give their WCs to players from their nation.

indiana · Tennis legend

Much as I personally would virtually do away with Slam main draw WCs, as long as they exist in the other Slams and are given mostly to home players, Wimbledon should do likewise. It is something that should be universally considered for these elite tournaments.

But anyway, it won't be, so I and some others can whistle in the wind as much as we want, these passes will continue to be given.

sherbert · Lower Club Player

Personally - I love an underdog :)

indiana · Tennis legend

Me too, once they come through qualifying :)