British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

Sheddie · administrator

Race for the Wimbledon wildcards 2026

LordBrownof · Challenger qualifying

Shreddie, you read my mind. I was checking Felixs score this morning and thinking - picking the Wimbledon wildcard this year is going to be seriously tough.

Danny1312 · Club Coach

We could really use a couple of the top guys sneaking in automatically... free up some wildcards! Could be more than ever in qualifying though!

Sheddie · administrator

So what's at stake?

The premier prize is, of course, the 8 men's singles wildcards at Wimbledon. In 2025, those went to: (Jay Clarke, Oli Crawford, Dan Evans, Arthur Fery, George Loffhagen, Johannus Monday, JPJ and Henry Searle).

Right now, on rankings, they would go to: (Jan Choinski, JPJ, Billy Harris, Arthur Fery, Jay Clarke, Oli Crawford, Dan Evans and George Loffhagen).

But much could change, especially if Jake doesn't arrest his slump and needs a MDWC, if Jan or JPJ qualify and win a match or two at Indian Wells/Miami. Loffers hasn't quite clicked since narrowly missing out on qualifying for the AO, and if Toby and Felix's rise continues, both could be well into the top 200 by June. Can't see Henry getting another look-in.

Then there's the 8 qualies WCs - in 2025 those went to: (Oli Bonding, Paul Jubb, Ryan Peniston, Oli Tarvet and 4 winners from the WC playoffs - Hamish Stewart, Ali Gray, James Story and Giles Hussey, with 1 WC going to the previous year's junior champ).

Assuming it's the same this year, then right now it could be QWCs for Ryan, Toby, JoMo and Felix, and then a crazily competitive bunfight in the playoffs).

Mervatron2 · ATP qualifying

Agree with the above. Helpfully someone can move up into the MD as of right and free up a wild card.

It may be fascinating that some of the above dont even get a look in in qualifying.

Sheddie · administrator

Danny1312 wrote:
We could really use a couple of the top guys sneaking in automatically... free up some wildcards! Could be more than ever in qualifying though!

Definitely, and having a few more guys in the top 220 as well, so those who miss out on MDWCs will get direct entries for Wimbledon qualies, freeing up more QWCs.

Going to be brutally tough for the grass court ATPs as well. Queens has three MDWCs (assuming at the moment those would go to Jake, Jan and JPJ). And 3 QWCs (Billy, Arthur and Jay).

Still - means that the grass court challengers happening at the same time are going to be stacked with British interest

Sheddie · administrator

Mervatron2 wrote:
Agree with the above. Helpfully someone can move up into the MD as of right and free up a wild card.

It may be fascinating that some of the above dont even get a look in in qualifying.

Yeah for sure - maybe Oli Tarvet will get a MDWC as well, after his heroics in 2025, meaning there's even less for the rest.

Crazy that players like Harry who's had a phenomenal breakout year, and Charlie/Liam, who have done so well to get their rankings back up, are unlikely to get direct qualies WCs as it stands, and are still going to need the playoffs.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Good thread and really interested but the havent the head space to comment just now in any sensible way! Will read properly later!

Danny1312 · Club Coach

Either way it is very interesting and might change weekly! They I think will really need to think more leading upto and into Wimbledon... feel like last year we weren't anywhere near as stacked like we are now.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

For the qualis wildcards, they give one to the 18U national champion, so that's one less on offer

Although I think it's only two from the play-offs that are guaranteed, no? (Or is it only one?) The four from last year was purely coincidental, so to speak, that's for sure

But Mark Ceban is the highest ranked junior and, assuming he wins, just based on ranking, he'll have one

You'll also have to keep an eye on the US college championships

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
For the qualis wildcards, they give one to the 18U national champion, so that's one less on offer

Although I think it's only two from the play-offs that are guaranteed, no? (Or is it only one?) The four from last year was purely coincidental, so to speak, that's for sure

But Mark Ceban is the highest ranked junior and, assuming he wins, just based on ranking, he'll have one

You'll also have to keep an eye on the US college championships

Agreed - they give two as the rule from playoffs and make up with more if needed. Agree re national juniors and college also.

almost not worth trying to guess is my view - Id be inclined to just go down the rankings, thats fair and reasonable, for both main and qualifying wild cards

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
For the qualis wildcards, they give one to the 18U national champion, so that's one less on offer

Although I think it's only two from the play-offs that are guaranteed, no? (Or is it only one?) The four from last year was purely coincidental, so to speak, that's for sure

But Mark Ceban is the highest ranked junior and, assuming he wins, just based on ranking, he'll have one

You'll also have to keep an eye on the US college championships
Agreed - they give two as the rule from playoffs and make up with more if needed. Agree re national juniors and college also.

almost not worth trying to guess is my view - Id be inclined to just go down the rankings, thats fair and reasonable, for both main and qualifying wild cards

But age and funding status will matter too - not just ranking

i.e. Henry Searle has a very good chance of a wildcard (into main draw or into qualis), no matter if he's not there on ranking

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
For the qualis wildcards, they give one to the 18U national champion, so that's one less on offer

Although I think it's only two from the play-offs that are guaranteed, no? (Or is it only one?) The four from last year was purely coincidental, so to speak, that's for sure

But Mark Ceban is the highest ranked junior and, assuming he wins, just based on ranking, he'll have one

You'll also have to keep an eye on the US college championships
Agreed - they give two as the rule from playoffs and make up with more if needed. Agree re national juniors and college also.

almost not worth trying to guess is my view - Id be inclined to just go down the rankings, thats fair and reasonable, for both main and qualifying wild cards
But age and funding status will matter too - not just ranking
i.e. Henry Searle has a very good chance of a wildcard (into main draw or into qualis), no matter if he's not there on ranking

Im sure youre right, but Im just saying IMO, with players so close, id persinally motivate them / be fair to them by just going down the rankings. Players like Charles Broom and Giles Hussey get little press around their achievements and yet they are right up there, Ali Gray also. If they get a ranking spot to put them in the top X of qualies wildcard worthy players, Id reward that.

But realise that is naive and other things come into play - my brain starts hurting at that point, Ill just watch from the sides!

Blue_Belle · Pro player

Could Dan use PR instead of WC? (Not sure how long he has been out for)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Blue_Belle wrote:
Could Dan use PR instead of WC? (Not sure how long he has been out for)

Courtesy of Madadman on Dan's dedicated thread:

Could easily be a full 6 months for Dan so he gets a PR on return. Even the beginning of January is only 4 months. The general recovery will probably be done by then but getting it strong enough to play pro tennis is probably another little while.

(posted on 21/10/25)