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Heather Watson, meanwhile, says it is right that Wimbledon hand out wildcards to British players who cannot earn a place by right. This year, six women, including the 31-year-old, were given a place in the first round draw where even the losers will pocket £55,000 just for turning up.
But for the first time since 2007, none of them were ranked high enough to enter the women’s draw directly when the list was drawn up on May 22, with the cut-off point set at the world’s top 102. Watson, ranked No 149 in the world, faces 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the first round.
“It is tough because it is all about timing,” she said. “For example, if the cut was a few weeks later, Katie Boulter would have qualified. And let’s say maybe if I had got the ranking points at Wimbledon last year, I may have been in the draw.
“There are so many factors. But I predicted in Nottingham that it would be a good grass court season for British women, and I think it has been. I practice with these girls a lot and I know how I am playing - and we are all performing above our rankings. So I think the wild cards are warranted.”
