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Wimbledon gets tough on wild cards
Wimbledon, Apr 24: Making it into the Wimbledon draw just got harder for British players yesterday. Traditionally most of the eight men`s and women`s wild cards are handed to British players, many of whom wouldn`t normally make the field. This year, they`ll have to earn it.
Wimbledon, Apr 24: Making it into the Wimbledon draw just got harder for British players yesterday. Traditionally most of the eight men's and women's wild cards are handed to British players, many of whom wouldn't normally make the field. This year, they'll have to earn it.
"The LTA gets criticized for just giving it away, but we want to get away from that," Lawn Tennis Association performance director David Felgate said Wednesday. "I think it sends a hard message to players who might be expecting them."
The LTA said the four "most deserving" male players ranked inside the world's top 350 would get a wild card.
Two more would be decided by an eight-man playoff made up of the next six highest-ranking players, one junior and one other player. The two finalists will earn wild cards.
For the women's wild cards, four would be chosen by the LTA, with four others playing off for one more wild card. The remaining wild cards for both men and women will be held at the discretion of the All England Club's championship committee.
Bureau Report
"The LTA gets criticized for just giving it away, but we want to get away from that," Lawn Tennis Association performance director David Felgate said Wednesday. "I think it sends a hard message to players who might be expecting them."
The LTA said the four "most deserving" male players ranked inside the world's top 350 would get a wild card.
Two more would be decided by an eight-man playoff made up of the next six highest-ranking players, one junior and one other player. The two finalists will earn wild cards.
For the women's wild cards, four would be chosen by the LTA, with four others playing off for one more wild card. The remaining wild cards for both men and women will be held at the discretion of the All England Club's championship committee.
Bureau Report