British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

Entry Week 23 - 08/06/2026

JonH · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Lopez didn't get a WC because he won the previous year. He won in 2017, made the draw by right in 2018 and then received a WC in 2019, going on to win. No WC in 2021, the next Queens tournament.

ETA Given that the year he did get a WC, he played doubles with Andy Murray, I suspect his singles WC was the result of heavy lobbying from Judy (A big fan)

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Tuesday 2nd of June 2026 06:22:26 AM

Indeed - at the time, when it was all about the big 3 plus Andy and Stan, there were only a few other relative box office players - eg Tsonga, Monfils, DelPo, - and Lopez was definitely crowd appeal and TV appeal at the time. Not like those others, but for someone ranked lower, he stood out. His wildcard was a juxtaposition of recent champion and general box office.

In the womens game, Maria had a lot of press last year around her win, I suspect on balance the Queens organisers will give her one - not least because it isnt clear the British women deserve all those places on current form and maybe better off winning matches at Ilkley or the like.

Var · Challenger qualifying

JonH wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:
Lopez didn't get a WC because he won the previous year. He won in 2017, made the draw by right in 2018 and then received a WC in 2019, going on to win. No WC in 2021, the next Queens tournament.

ETA Given that the year he did get a WC, he played doubles with Andy Murray, I suspect his singles WC was the result of heavy lobbying from Judy (A big fan)

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Tuesday 2nd of June 2026 06:22:26 AM
Indeed - at the time, when it was all about the big 3 plus Andy and Stan, there were only a few other relative box office players - eg Tsonga, Monfils, DelPo, - and Lopez was definitely crowd appeal and TV appeal at the time. Not like those others, but for someone ranked lower, he stood out. His wildcard was a juxtaposition of recent champion and general box office.

In the womens game, Maria had a lot of press last year around her win, I suspect on balance the Queens organisers will give her one - not least because it isnt clear the British women deserve all those places on current form and maybe better off winning matches at Ilkley or the like.

I would like to see Maria get a WC. She played a great tournament last year and provided a great story for the tournament. I dont think any of the other GB women are near a WTA 500 level TBH.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Lopez didn't get a WC because he won the previous year. He won in 2017, made the draw by right in 2018 and then received a WC in 2019, going on to win. No WC in 2021, the next Queens tournament.

ETA Given that the year he did get a WC, he played doubles with Andy Murray, I suspect his singles WC was the result of heavy lobbying from Judy (A big fan)

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Tuesday 2nd of June 2026 06:22:26 AM

Indeed

Which makes Maria's case even stronger - she was last year's winner, not a winner from two year's ago

And Judy's lobbying is probably true and pretty distatseful, tbh - she's allowed to fancy whoever she fancies but there's a bit of a conflict of interest here

seagull · Tennis legend

Distasteful and misogynistic...we are talking about a wildcard to a tennis tournament. Get a grip!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

seagull wrote:
Distasteful and misogynistic...we are talking about a wildcard to a tennis tournament. Get a grip!

I know biggrin biggrin biggrin

I find it funny too but hey there's still some truth to it

PaulM · Tennis legend

Come on CD, you know how this works. Maria's camp enquired a week ago about a wildcard, were told the request would be considered but there were no guarantees as the general approach prioritises top 10 and Brits. That's entirely fair.

Remember this time last week the organisers would still not know:

1. If their field would hold. Maria I think was 4 out, she may well make it anyway so why would you not just wait and see.

2. If Roland Garros draw would collapse and they'd get a flurry of requests from top 10 players wanting to play.

I believe the rule is that 1 wildcard has to go to top 10 if there are requests, so you can't pre-award that.

At that point you have 3. A week ago Sonay missing all the grass was not known, so the organisers were likely working on the basis of awarding two to British players - Boulter and Kartal.

That leaves 1. If you decide a week out to give it to Maria, and then suddenly you find yourself with 3/4 requests from top 10/15 players, you are a bit stuck.

With Sonay injured and Rybakina getting a top 30 replacement slot rather than having to use the Top 10 wildcard, that leaves the organisers with a bit more flexibility if we assume the only lock is Boulter. But that's only come to light in the last couple of days.

I would like them to use one for Maria (although it looks fairly certain she will move into the draw by ranking in the next 48 hours) - but it is entirely reasonable for them, a week ago, to have said, we can't guarantee you will get one.

And also I think we need to use words based on their actual meaning. Preferring one female over another - which is actually what's happening here - is not misogyny. Treating the women's field differently in terms of scheduling, promotion etc..., that's a different story!!

JonH · Tennis legend

Ella is out of the Egypt event, just Allegra left in the entry list

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
Ella is out of the Egypt event, just Allegra left in the entry list

Summer Yardley looks like she will make the MD.