As Wimbledon approaches, players and fans are keenly awaiting the announcement of this year’s wildcard recipients.
During each of the four Grand Slam events, eight players who have not qualified for the main draw by ranking are granted wildcards.
These wildcards are often awarded to players from the tournament’s host country or to past champions, which can stir up controversy, as the organisers of Wimbledon discovered on Wednesday.
This year’s Wimbledon decision involved not granting a wildcard to Lois Boisson, despite her impressive performance at Roland Garros, where she reached the semifinals.
John Fitzgerald Comments on Wimbledon’s Wildcard Decision
On the Australian Open TV YouTube channel, seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion John Fitzgerald weighed in on Wimbledon’s decision regarding Boisson. He stated, “It’s Wimbledon’s prerogative; they can choose whomever they wish.”
Fitzgerald explained that the cutoff for points comes before players register points from Roland Garros, noting that Boisson will have opportunities next year. He also supported the decision to award wildcard spots to former champion Petra Kvitova, who is a two-time Wimbledon champion.
Did Lois Boisson Deserve a Wimbledon Wildcard?
Boisson had an incredible run in Paris, defeating top players like Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula. However, Wimbledon may have hesitated due to her lack of professional grass experience. Despite this, she has the chance to qualify for the main draw through qualifying rounds.
Commencing on June 23, the Wimbledon qualifying event will give Boisson, who is the highest-ranked player in the draw, an opportunity to demonstrate her skills on grass.
