British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

sammmm · Lower Club Player

Race for the Wimbledon wildcards 2026

PaulM · Tennis legend

I guess they were never going to split the teens up but it does feel like a reward for no progress from Hannah. But maybe she'll perform a little better this time.

Nice to see the doubles wildcards being used, feel a bit for Emily Appleton as she's just outside the top 100 and also no QWC. Dudeney/Xu is an odd choice over the more established doubles players but they've always liked doubling people up. Shame Harriers doubles ranking has fallen to the extent they needed a wildcard - will see how far away they were when official list comes out tomorrow it's usually about 140-160 the cut I think.

Jodie keeping her PR for US and Australia I guess makes some sense. Last wildcard I guess being held potentially for Venus? If not could Heather sneak it - probably not but stranger things have happened.

I've got entirely selfish complains based on personal bias but objectively it's a reasonable allocation.

the addict · Tennis legend

Blue_Belle wrote:
Doubles WC Katie B/Heather, Williams sisters, Maddy/Millie R, Jodie/Mika, Freya/Eden, Harriet/Maia, Alicia D/Mimi

One noticeable exception is Emily A, who is GB #3 at WR108. She doesn't seem to have a regular partner at the moment, and would most probably miss the cut.

SuperT · Futures level

There's a spare held over in both main and qualifying. My guess is that Heather will get one or the other depending on whether Serena requests one for singles.

wimdledont · Challenger level

Daniella Britton?

15yo who has played 2 women's matches and lost both?

Junior ranked 77?

SuperT · Futures level

wimdledont wrote:
Daniella Britton?

15yo who has played 2 women's matches and lost both?

Junior ranked 77?

Yes but she won the U18 nationals and that gives her entitlement

wimdledont · Challenger level

SuperT wrote:
wimdledont wrote:
Daniella Britton?

15yo who has played 2 women's matches and lost both?

Junior ranked 77?
Yes but she won the U18 nationals and that gives her entitlement

Okay, fair enough if she has earned it. Good luck to her.

wales1994 · Pro player

I get them not wanting to split the juniors up, but this year Klugman's WC seems indefensible. Last year she seemed on the up, made the RG final at least. But in 12 months her senior world ranking has only gone up around 80 places and still sits outside the top 500... I do think quallies was the better option here.

Andy Parker · County player

I'm really pleased with the 6 tht made the main draw; I think the one remaining space is interesting. Could it go to Serena Williams, or perhaps Heather, who is a very surprisingly left out entirely? Or perhaps Jodie could be bumped up. Normally when this happens, either they are awaiting for somebody high profile (like Serena) or they simply then announce it will go to the next direct entrant.

I am very pleased that Alicia got one, and I guess that with only foreign place allocated, that it is perfectly reasonable that Hannah got the last slot.

I do though particularly feel for Heather, that she didn't even get a qualifying wildcard slot.

I'm not that bothered about there being four through via the wildcard play offs - it makes it a really proper competition for places. My only slight quibble would be a question mark as to how Daniella Britton has got one of the qualifying wildcard slots. On the other hand, I really don't know enough about her game to judge, I think.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:52:47 PM

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:53:56 PM

Andy Parker · County player

Here's a thought - the Wildcard Committee are awaiting on a decision from Serena for the last slot, and if she says yes, then she gets the slot, and Heather gets the space in qualifying.

If Serena decides not to play, then Heather gets the last slot.

I know all of this is pure conjecture, but I think I could well be right.

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

Andy Parker wrote:
I'm really pleased with the 6 tht made the main draw; I think the one remaining space is interesting. Could it go to Serena Williams, or perhaps Heather, who is a very surprisingly left out entirely? Or perhaps Jodie could be bumped up. Normally when this happens, either they are awaiting for somebody high profile (like Serena) or they simply then announce it will go to the next direct entrant.

I am very pleased that Alicia got one, and I guess that with only foreign place allocated, that it is perfectly reasonable that Hannah got the last slot.

I do though particularly feel for Heather, that she didn't even get a qualifying wildcard slot.

I'm not that bothered about there being four through via the wildcard play offs - it makes it a really proper competition for places. My only slight quibble would be a question mark as to how Daniella Britton has got one of the qualifying wildcard slots. On the other hand, I really don't know enough about her game to judge, I think.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:52:47 PM

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 12:53:56 PM

She earned it b being the U18 champion

Var · Challenger qualifying

I am not sure if I would have given MDWC to Hannah and Mimi. As Lambda said they dont seem to want to split them up though. However think it is right for Mika. Perhaps the younger ones would be better in QWC. I dont get Lily in qualifying though. Dani earned it, well done!

-- Edited by Var on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 01:14:35 PM

sammmm · Lower Club Player

Var wrote:
I am not sure if I would have given MDWC to Hannah and Mimi. As Lambda said they dont seem to want to split them up though. However think it is right for Mika. Perhaps the younger ones would be better in QWC. I dont get Lily in qualifying though. Dani earned it, well done!

-- Edited by Var on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 01:14:35 PM

I'm assuming because Lily is previously top 150 and also 120 points clear of Naiktha who leads a big bunch in the 4 and 5 hundreds. There are more points between Lily and Naiktha than between Naiktha and Ella who is GB 19

PaulM · Tennis legend

Andy Parker wrote:
Here's a thought - the Wildcard Committee are awaiting on a decision from Serena for the last slot, and if she says yes, then she gets the slot, and Heather gets the space in qualifying.

If Serena decides not to play, then Heather gets the last slot.

I know all of this is pure conjecture, but I think I could well be right.

Heather is in the qualifying draw using her Protected Ranking. Jodie obviously wants to save hers to use in the US and Australia. The fact Heather hasn't done so might raise questions on whether she intends to play beyond the US Open (which would make the decision not to get a farewell wildcard here strange). Or she, unlike Jodie, backs herself to not need a PR to play in Melbourne by the time January arrives.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Not sure why everyone is being so hard on Hannah just after she beat a Top 100 player. In truth neither she, Mimi or Mika (BJK Cup excluded) have had a great season but given their age they all deserve at least one more bite at the cherry. Next year after they have all turned 18 will be a fairer time to be more critical of individual performance when awarding Wildcards rather than continuing to treat them as a group.

-- Edited by dodrade on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 01:39:09 PM