British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict · Tennis legend

Race for the Wimbledon wildcards 2026

indiana · Tennis legend

sammmm wrote:
So right now we're looking at, Harriet, Katie S, Alicia, Mika, Mimi, Hannah and potentially Heather for MDWCs?

Lily, Naiktha, Emily App, Vic A, Amelia Rajecki for QWCs?

And then a massive scramble among those between 500 and around 900 for the playoff wildcard spots

Have I read that right?

Looks fair enough in general though I'd be finding a place for Ella McDonald in the Q WCs.

Of course the rankings are now out so play-off hopefuls can see where they stand in the order chasing the 10 direct entries. Some chances of getting in may be effected by who gets Q WCs, who maybe will be letting the play-offs pass ( Sofia? ), and possibly not taken up play-off WC categories (?)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Worth remembering, too, that there are only 10 direct acceptance places in the women's Wimbly Wildcard Playoffs, whereas the men have 13

sammmm · Lower Club Player

Lambda wrote:
I'm not as convinced as most that Alicia will get a MD WC. It's more 50/50 for me.

The qualifying options look underwhelming to me. They're mostly players stuck in the 400s with nothing suggesting they're potential top 250 players in the future. Given the closeness if I were the LTA, I'd be tempted to nominate few qWCs and let them fight it out in the play-offs with the 4 finalists getting the qWCs instead of the last 2.

I don't disagree but the danger with that is it reduces the chances that our 18 year olds get automatic entry into the playoffs because people like Allegra and Brooke and Ruby would be outside the 10 auto entry spots by rankings if Naiktha / Emily / Vic / Millie were in the playoffs

RJH1962 · Strong Club Player

sammmm wrote:
So right now we're looking at, Harriet, Katie S, Alicia, Mika, Mimi, Hannah and potentially Heather for MDWCs?

Lily, Naiktha, Emily App, Vic A, Amelia Rajecki for QWCs?

And then a massive scramble among those between 500 and around 900 for the playoff wildcard spots

Have I read that right?

Id be surprised if Jodie doesnt get at least a QWC

-- Edited by RJH1962 on Monday 15th of June 2026 10:52:49 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Does anyone know the state of fitness of Marni?

And has Ruby been doing A levels or something?

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

RJH1962 wrote:
sammmm wrote:
So right now we're looking at, Harriet, Katie S, Alicia, Mika, Mimi, Hannah and potentially Heather for MDWCs?

Lily, Naiktha, Emily App, Vic A, Amelia Rajecki for QWCs?

And then a massive scramble among those between 500 and around 900 for the playoff wildcard spots

Have I read that right?
Id be surprised if Jodie doesnt get at least a QWC

-- Edited by RJH1962 on Monday 15th of June 2026 10:19:24 AM

Katie Swan had to go through the playoffs so I don't see why Jodie should be exempt. The one thing in her favour is that she did play in the BJK, albeit doubles.

indiana · Tennis legend

Jodie is already on the Q list with her PR. Same with Heather.

wimdledont · Challenger level

Threre has to be some doubt over Katie Swan's fitness? She retired hurt from Ilkley, and isnt playing at Notts...

And, I dont like to say it, but Heather is GB16, WR490, and 34yo. It's not easy to make a case for her to get a MDWC based on her current form/situation/potential. (Gratitude for past contributions over half of her lifetime to date, yes; and she certainly has earned a retirement gold watch; but... there is definitely a case for giving her a QWC, doubles and mixed MDWC.)

Is Jodie Burrage fit enough for consideration for a QWC? And both Ranah and Ella are significantly younger than some of the other contenders for QWCs.

-- Edited by wimdledont on Monday 15th of June 2026 10:46:02 AM

wimdledont · Challenger level

sorry, took a whie typing the above - messages crossed.

JonH · Tennis legend

As an aside, notice Harriet is entered into Newport RI grass event second week of Wimbledon.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Jodie is already on the Q list with her PR. Same with Heather.

Got to love PRs biggrin

I think Emily App has done enough to prove her worth on grass and is still reasonably young

Ranah would be a definite for me

Marni ? Again, is she fit? No point giving her one if she isn't

Ella is a good call after recent showing

Millie R would come higher than Vic, IMO, but would come below Ranah and Ella

sammmm · Lower Club Player

wimdledont wrote:
Threre has to be some doubt over Katie Swan's fitness? She retired hurt from Ilkley, and isnt playing at Notts...

And, I dont like to say it, but Heather is GB16, WR490, and 34yo. It's not easy to make a case for her to get a MDWC based on her current form/situation/potential. (Gratitude for past contributions over half of her lifetime to date, yes; and she certainly has earned a retirement gold watch; but... there is definitely a case for giving her a QWC, doubles and mixed MDWC.)

Is Jodie Burrage fit enough for consideration for a QWC? And both Ranah and Ella are significantly younger than some of the other contenders for QWCs.

-- Edited by wimdledont on Monday 15th of June 2026 10:46:02 AM

Sadly there will always be uncertainty of Katie's fitness but she's had a pattern where she's needed a week off after playing back to back tournaments and I don't think Notts was ever likely for her, hopeful she'll be playing (probably Qualies) at Eastbourne

I agree re Heather's form not justifying a wilcard but I still anticipate she could get one final MDWC as a thank you to her (i can't see her playing much longer now she's down so low and wonder if she may retire after Wimbledon at this point)

Jodie doesn't need a QWC because of her protected ranking but the QWCs is hard to call and I'd prefer Ella or Ranah to get one or Marni if she's fit over some others

-- Edited by sammmm on Monday 15th of June 2026 11:00:07 AM

the addict · Tennis legend

My qualifying tickets have finally come through and are showing on my mywimbledon account.

PaulM · Tennis legend

The difficulty with Emily App is she did well last year but her ranking has, once again, gone absolutely nowhere over twelve months. No doubt there'll be contributing factors but everyone has those.

Like Lambda, if we assume the three kids get main draw again this year, the qualifying options are quite underwhelming. Lily is going backwards, Nailtha has hardly played, Marni's ranking has collapsed because she hasn't played.

There's not really anyone in that 300-600 group I'd say definitely don't deserve to have to go in the playoffs. Which is unusually for me, maybe I'm getting grumpy now I'm 40 haha. Ranah maybe?

I think I'd be inclined to stack the Play-Offs even more and let them battle it out for 4, again as Lambda suggested.

But probably can see 3 going to Lily, Ranah, Emily App. I don't see them going with Vic or Millie. If Marni is fit maybe she gets one given she did ok last year and the LTA like her, but she's not played a grass warm up which suggests she's not ready.