British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

indiana · Tennis legend

Entry Week 23 - 08/06/2026

Blue_Belle · Pro player

Coup Droit wrote:
That's dreadful

Yes, the reddit comments are equally un-positive.

ricardo89 · Junior player

Im sorry but I agree with this, this is a British tournament and the wildcards should go to British players or WTA top 10 players, her form has been terrible this year, shes hardly won matches she lost to a player ranked nearly 400 in the world in Rabat and had a losing streak of 6 at one point this year, and I would rather watch any British player than watch Tatiana Maria, sorry.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

All other wildcards should go the GB players

But it's a really poor look to not allow the defending champion to defend her title

For a team trying to push women's tennis, it looks really nasty

And misogynistic, given that Lopez got it

(I just emailed HSBC and asked them if they realised their brand was being was being portrayed this way - PS I'm not the only one, I know two other people who have too)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 1st of June 2026 03:14:04 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
All other wildcards should go the GB players

But it's a really poor look to not allow the defending champion to defend her title

For a team trying to push women's tennis, it looks really nasty

And misogynistic, given that Lopez got it

(I just emailed HSBC and asked them if they realised their brand was being was being portrayed this way - PS I'm not the only one, I know two other people who have too)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 1st of June 2026 03:14:04 PM

Good stuff, CD.

Tatjana is not just the reigning champion but a very popular one, a mother who also had that well teceived great Wimblefon run.to the SF in 2022.

JonH · Tennis legend

In a statement though, the LTA said per below

The LTA, however, has defended its general approach, stating that wildcard decisions remain under review and are guided by a priority structure favouring domestic players and top-ranked WTA athletes. No final decision has been made on the wildcards yet, but our approach is to prioritise British or WTA top-10 players, the LTA said in a statement.

This feels like a possible get out of jail card to me, "no final decision has been made"

But let's see - isn't Laura Robson still tournament director? She should be embarrassed if she was involved in this decision

PaulM · Tennis legend

I mean, I read this as just saying she'd asked but hadn't had a "yes" (yet) - but it's also not been a final "no" which lots of people are seeming to suggest is the case and she's had a wildcard "denied". The headline seems both a tad sensationalist and misleading by saying her request has been "refused" - it might be, but it hasn't been yet! Wildcards are usually announced on the Wednesday before no? And Maria may well sneak into the main draw if there a few more withdrawals anyway which would make this all moot, she's only 3 or 4 out.

I'd give her a wildcard, and I'd be very disappointed if they didn't. But I do wonder if some of this furore is jumping the gun - the fact Rybakina has managed to get into the main draw by an alternative route today and not need a wildcard is helpful. And Maria's team are stirring the pot by interpreting their conversation as being definitive, totally understandably to try and put pressure on so the final decision when it is made goes their way (I'd be doing the same so that's not a criticism!!).

And her form since Queens last year is pretty diabolical - there are two grass court WTA in Germany and I don't believe she's in the running for a wildcard into either of those despite being German #2. I don't think that should should rule her out here, but I can see why when she's so close to the main draw anyway they didn't make an advance rush decision to award her one. I think she'll be in the main draw one way or another.

-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 1st of June 2026 05:32:58 PM

-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 1st of June 2026 05:35:05 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

The Telegraph article says that the decision re Tatjana's WC request was communicated to her camp last week.

PaulM · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
The Telegraph article says that the decision re Tatjsna's WC request was communicated to her camp last week.

As told to the Telegraph by Maria's camp. The article then posts a statement from the tournament/LTA saying the final decision hasn't been made.

-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 1st of June 2026 05:36:06 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
indiana wrote:
The Telegraph article says that the decision re Tatjsna's WC request was communicated to her camp last week.
As told to the Telegraph by Maria's camp. The article then posts a statement from the tournament/LTA saying the final decision hasn't been made.

-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 1st of June 2026 05:36:06 PM

Yes, the final WC decisions may still be due to be made but I suspect that she was at least given a no in principle last week ( they could have told her yes in principle and if she ended up not needing one then fine ). But as Jon said they have a "get out" which they are emphasising.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 1st of June 2026 08:45:57 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Good - my email to HSBC today telling them not to support an unfair and miogyinistic tournament as it will tarnish their brand might have had an effect

wolf · Tennis legend

Decision if it is a final one is fine with me. I would rather it go to a British player.

Not sure you can say it's misogynistic. The LTA as they have said have changed their policy.

goldfish · Futures level

So how does the doubles WC for Serena fit in with the new criteria?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:
Decision if it is a final one is fine with me. I would rather it go to a British player.

Not sure you can say it's misogynistic. The LTA as they have said have changed their policy.

Misogynistic was because, in the same situation, Lopez got a wildcard

wolf · Tennis legend

I know, I can read.

Two different sets of people with a similar decision with different variables coming to two different decisions isn't misogynistic.

That's an extraordinary allegation and in fact is incorrect.