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Sheddie · administrator

Race for the Wimbledon wildcards 2026

Blue_Belle · Pro player

Sheddie wrote:
I don't think his PR would be high enough to get him in the main draw directly as he was still outside the top 100 when he got injured. So he'd need a MDWC.

But it's plausible that with so much competition, the LTA wouldn't give Dan a MDWC for Wimbledon this year, especially if he doesn't do much in the challengers between now and June. And then if his ranking falls and he needs it, he could use a PR to get into Wimbledon qualies rather than needing a QWC

Ah thanks. However, if its his last year on tour, they might be so inclined for the MDWC. Or a doubles WC I suppose.

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

Dan played in Australia.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Dan played in Australia.

Hes playing in Cherbourg next week; assuming he can get out of Dubai (he lives there, doesnt he?)

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
For the qualis wildcards, they give one to the 18U national champion, so that's one less on offer

Although I think it's only two from the play-offs that are guaranteed, no? (Or is it only one?) The four from last year was purely coincidental, so to speak, that's for sure

But Mark Ceban is the highest ranked junior and, assuming he wins, just based on ranking, he'll have one

You'll also have to keep an eye on the US college championships
Agreed - they give two as the rule from playoffs and make up with more if needed. Agree re national juniors and college also.

almost not worth trying to guess is my view - Id be inclined to just go down the rankings, thats fair and reasonable, for both main and qualifying wild cards
But age and funding status will matter too - not just ranking
i.e. Henry Searle has a very good chance of a wildcard (into main draw or into qualis), no matter if he's not there on ranking
Im sure youre right, but Im just saying IMO, with players so close, id persinally motivate them / be fair to them by just going down the rankings. Players like Charles Broom and Giles Hussey get little press around their achievements and yet they are right up there, Ali Gray also. If they get a ranking spot to put them in the top X of qualies wildcard worthy players, Id reward that.

But realise that is naive and other things come into play - my brain starts hurting at that point, Ill just watch from the sides!

Oh, I'd certainly take into account age, progress and tour absences for whatever reasons. There is such as the aforementioned Oli Tarvet, at college and not picking up ranking points. Though re young Mr Searle he needs to be getting his act together.

Re the play-offs, there are more than enough Q WC contenders that they should be able to allocate a quota of Q WCs straight off leaving just 2 ftom the POs with no need for top ups.

Danny1312 · Club Coach

I personally hope young Searle does up his performances! For now though if not I would prefer him not get one... might spur him on a bit and others are imo more deserving! But like most this might not happen but just my thoughts on him :)

indiana · Tennis legend

Danny1312 wrote:
I personally hope young Searle does up his performances! For now though if not I would prefer him not get one... might spur him on a bit and others are imo more deserving! But like most this might not happen but just my thoughts on him :)

Indeed. He's on tour, he's got more than a full slate of counters, GB live ranked #29 so he's not producing close to a lot of other Brits. Hopefully he will do but for now ...

brittak · Satellite level

An interesting and very early start to the annual wild card debate!

I was thinking about this recently too but along a slightly different tack.

I.e. what do our players need to do to get into the main draw and qualifying directly.

For the basis of this, the assumptions are that players need c600 points (ranked 100) to get in directly and c250 points (ranked 225) for qualies on the cut-off dates. Obviously this may vary as we go along.

MD is points up until 18/5 and Q 8/6 - Is this correct? I have used OER for points dropping off from the relevant dates last year and havent allowed for mandatories, best 18 etc.

So therefore i think we have for MAIN DRAW
Norrie in - 1088

Draper - 550 so a bit more to do
Fearnley 465 ( but easily in Q)

Best others to get into MD are Choinski (491), JPJ (455) and Fery (435) - but all 3 have already done enough for Q

QUALIFYING
Also enough for Q are Harris (353) and Evans (275)

The rest have a bit more work to do but plenty of time left to get the necessary 250 points
N.B. - this weeks ITFs not included

Crawford 221
Samuel 217
Gill 198
Loffhagen 190
Monday 177
Clarke 167
Basing 161
Broady 159
Broom 151

Tarvet 150

Wendelken 148

Peniston 137
Jubb 126
Gray 116
Maxted 116
Stewart 112

Hussey 92
Searle 77 (This highlights what others are thinking.)

I am sure there are some errors here both in assumptions and actuals but thought it might be helpful to add to the discussion and who deserves wild cards might flow from here

-- Edited by brittak on Sunday 1st of March 2026 10:21:18 PM

-- Edited by brittak on Sunday 1st of March 2026 11:34:43 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks brittak, always a very interesting way of looking at things - how many points have players already banked against their target.

Just thinking one extra for now - Oli Tarvet who has no points to drop before 15/06 so all his 150 points must be banked for Wimbledon, though I'm not sure what opportunities he will have to add to these. Whatever, fit and well, I imagine he will get a WC if he doesn't make the Q entry list, meaning then one less for the rest to fight over

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 1st of March 2026 11:36:08 PM

brittak · Satellite level

indiana wrote:
Thanks brittak, always a very interesting way of looking at things - how many points have players already banked against their target.

Just thinking one extra for now - Oli Tarvet who has no points to drop before 15/06 so all his 150 points must be banked for Wimbledon, though I'm not sure what opportunities he will have to add to these.

Yes good point. I will edit and add him in. Thanks