British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict wrote:

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You missed Ella and I missed Allegra 

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 Ha, I didn't miss Ella. I was giving Ella a Q WC then down the rankings list.

I came across this in The Times today, and I think it is quite significant.

Serena Williams was asked directly by The Times about whether she would be seeking a Main Draw Singles Wildcard for Wimbledon. Her reply is ''I still have a little time to decide and the AELTC have been great about giving me that space and time to decide''.

What that means I think is that if she wants a wildcard for the singles, the AELTC will give her one, so depending on Venus, with Chawlinska likely to get one, I think, that means either 5 or 6 places for Brits.

If there are 5 - then my choice would be (in order): Fran, Harriet, Katie S, Alicia, and then a close call between Mika and Mimi. and if 6, I'd take both.

It is hard to imagine Serena passing up the chance of a singles wildcard if the offer is there, I think, but we will find out soon.

With Hannah, Heather and Jodie all with different claims for wildcards, it is going to be tough for those who lose out I think - to substantiate that comment - Heather for length of service to UK tennis, Jodie because if back to full fitness, she is a top 100 player, and Hannah, because granting her one in 2025 and not in 2026, could lose her confidence and slow her development, though in Hannah's case, I don't think she has done enough this season to deserve one, at the expense of others more deserving, for various reasons.

Anyway it will be interesting to see - I won't be able to reply to any comments to this post, as I am now off to work for my final day before retirement, so a lot going on, but when I saw Serena's quote, I just had to post.

Andy Parker wrote:

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I came across this in The Times today, and I think it is quite significant.

Serena Williams was asked directly by The Times about whether she would be seeking a Main Draw Singles Wildcard for Wimbledon. Her reply is ''I still have a little time to decide and the AELTC have been great about giving me that space and time to decide''.

What that means I think is that if she wants a wildcard for the singles, the AELTC will give her one, so depending on Venus, with Chawlinska likely to get one, I think, that means either 5 or 6 places for Brits.

If there are 5 - then my choice would be (in order): Fran, Harriet, Katie S, Alicia, and then a close call between Mika and Mimi. and if 6, I'd take both.

It is hard to imagine Serena passing up the chance of a singles wildcard if the offer is there, I think, but we will find out soon.

With Hannah, Heather and Jodie all with different claims for wildcards, it is going to be tough for those who lose out I think - to substantiate that comment - Heather for length of service to UK tennis, Jodie because if back to full fitness, she is a top 100 player, and Hannah, because granting her one in 2025 and not in 2026, could lose her confidence and slow her development, though in Hannah's case, I don't think she has done enough this season to deserve one, at the expense of others more deserving, for various reasons.

Anyway it will be interesting to see - I won't be able to reply to any comments to this post, as I am now off to work for my final day before retirement, so a lot going on, but when I saw Serena's quote, I just had to post.

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 Pliskova is always a question too - she's not in as of right, I believe

And is a former finalist 

And just won her first match at Queens

Personally, I don't think Serena will want a singles one, even if offered 

But I may well be wrong, I wouldn't stake much money on it, just a hunch 

the addict wrote:

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Pliskova is in with SR60

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 Ahh, thank you - forgot she had an SR to use up

Good - one less to worry about 

emmsie69 wrote:

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Serena wants her children to see her play. I think she'll ask for one. I'm not on the Chawlinska train.

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Good point 

Although maybe she doesn't want them to see her get thrashed if she can't run? 

Mind you, Mboko's issues this morning might also make her think that doubles is a problem, at least she can rely on herself in singles, which would back up your point 

(And, yes, I don't care if Chawlinska gets one, or necessarily think she should - I can see the argument but Boisson was very close to the same last year and didn't, and the AELTC are still very focused on grass prowess, and it's not as though the Polish federation are going to cause them (or the LTA) any major problems)

I think the wild card playoffs will be a bit more competitive this year. With Katy Dunne and Katie Swan both in it last year in separate halves, it was pretty much inevitable that they would both win. They were a class apart despite their injury woes.