Wimbledon Wildcards Announced

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Wimbledon Wildcards Announced

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Don't get me wrong, I thought Gabi looked very impressive in Surbiton (although, like paulisi implied, I'm not sure that grass is her best surface). I'm happy her having one. But she has had a packet of top drawer wildcards for someone who's not played a competitive match in 6 months.

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

As you did mention yesterday CD, it looks like she is part of the "in-crowd" of the LTA, which means the strict rules applied to others does not apply with her.

wimdledont · Challenger level

I think the issue that needs addressing is not that Emily is too old, but that Katie O'Brien is too young.

Of the British women, Tara has performed as well as any throughout the recent 50k grass series.

Gabi's win/loss record in women's tennis is 1/7. She also lost in the first round of her last couple of junior tournaments.

Last year, there were 5 home women players in the first round of Wimbledon. As far as I can tell, that is a record low number of home players for the first round of any Grand Slam in the history of the sport - (though I don't know how to check back further than 2010, so that may be wrong).

scottie1 · Futures level

TennisLover wrote:
wimdledont wrote:
It seems to me that this is the absolute minimum that they could have awarded to the British women. JoKo and NaomiB pick themselves.

Extremely tough on EWS to get nothing for the singles, when she is the third in line, by ranking. Perhaps her attitude isn't right?

Other notable absentees Tara and NaomiC. Missing presumed injured KatieB, Freya and Laura.

Gabi Taylor seems to me to be an odd selection. Anna Brogan is actually making a better fist of making the transition from Juniors, as far as I can tell. Also Izzy Wallace. Maia Lumsden had a better Junior record, before Gabi's injury time-out.

Maybe it's not part of Anna/Izzy/Maia's plans at the moment??? What about Jodie Anna from yesterday's showing :)

Anna and Izzy made a decision not to play on grass. Seen Maia play a few times nowhere mature enough physically or good enough game to cope even in Wimbledon Qualies I don't mean to be rude by saying that .

Emily is British no 4 but her ranking is 310 or so in World I think that says it all. GB Womens tennis standards have dropped. Gone are the days of Bally Anne Katie O and Mel South all being around 100 or so or higher. Emilys ranking has been marred by injuries and could have been top 200 if fit and well over years.

If Emily qualifies through the play offs then great BUT I think correct decision not to award QWC !

indiana · Tennis legend

I do think Emily should have been awarded a Q WC and was expecting it, but others clearly read correctly the LTA's thoughts on such extreme age. Err...

I always thought Tara and Cav could have a struggle getting Q WCs. Just not really got the scores on the doors, though I had been factoring in my expectation of Emily getting one ( rather than Gabi, though all the best to her ).

Strongbow · All-time great

Irrespective of who's got what, the LTA has enough money to offer other carrots. Most WC and QWC will be destroyed in the first game.

Surely there is a better way of doing this. It does not reflect well on the genuine efforts the girls are making throughout the year, especially with the "general pubic".

indiana · Tennis legend

With her Surbiton and Ilkley MD WCs and now Wimbledon Q WC, assuming she steps on to court at Roehampton, Gabi will at the very least have 4 points from 3 counters post Wimbledon and maintain a ranking for almost another year.

Not that the vagaries of WCs and the WTA ranking system are anything to do with Gabi or others who have similarly benefitted in the past. All the best to her.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, I do seem to be repeatedly wishing Gabi "all the best".

As well as meaning it I'm just covering my back

LJR · Junior player

Whether I expected them is another matter, but i'm not surprised with any of the QWCs. Emily probably did deserve one, but I think they're always more likely to give wildcards to those in their teens/early 20s over someone in their 30s.

As Phil says, Gabi won a match in qualifying last year. Taking a set off Broady last week is no mean feat either.

ricardo89 · Junior player

Question for everyone - they have just announced the wildcards for the Aegon International and Harriet Dart has been given 1, is she going to be upgraded to a MDWC at Wimbledon?

PaulM · Tennis legend

If she wins her first round match as has to miss qualies probably. But main draw starts early for Eastbourne this year.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

I think with Heather's questionable form on the grass, the question mark over Laura and the fact we only have 2 MD WC make this a fairly lean Wimbledon for British interest.

I always look forward to the British matches, even if its to catch a better glimpse of a players game, but there doesnt feel like masses to be excited by this year.

paulisi · Tennis legend

For the girls - There are still 4 main draw wildcards to be allocated, 4 doubles to be allocated and a qualifying wildcard

One of these will be put aside for Laura Robson - if she wins her qualifying match at Eastbourne it will be a main draw, if she loses I suspect she will only get a qualifying wildcard.

No idea who will get the doubles or the other three main draw wildcards.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I think Em will still get one she lost in play offs last year and still got one. And if Lucy beats Cav I reckon Cav will still get one. Not sure Lucy will if she loses though