TENNIS NEWS • WIMBLEDON WILD CARDS ANNOUNCED • AUZZIE DE MINAUR LEADS LIST • DAN EVANS DENIED W.C.

Alex De Minaur of Australia in action against Kyle Edmund of Britain during their men’s first round match during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 29 May 2018. EPA-EFE/IAN LANGSDON

 

 

By Richard Pagliario

 

LONDON—Rising Australian teenager Alex DeMinaur won his first ATP Challenger on the grass courts of Nottingham last week and will make his Wimbledon main-draw debut next month.

 

The 19-year-old Aussie heads the list of Wimbledon wild card recipients, the AELTC announced today.

 

British players Liam Broady and Jay Clarke join de Minaur as the three men granted Wimbledon main-draw wild cards. Five more men’s wild cards will be announced.

 

Briton Dan Evans, who launched his comeback from a year-long suspension after testing positive for cocaine, was denied a main-draw wild card.

 

The 28-year-old Evans, who lost to de Minaur in the Nottingham final, will play the pre-qualifying tournament and will need to win three matches to make it to qualifying.

 

“This decision is based on principle in the immediacy of his return from a suspension from competition,” the AELTC said in a statement.

 

Former world No. 41 Evans has posted a 16-5 record since launching his comeback.

 

After falling to Adrian Mannarino, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5, in his Queen’s Club opener on Tuesday, Evans was asked if he felt he deserved a Wimbledon wild card.

 

“It’s potentially a hard question to answer,” Evans said with a smile, adding he had not discussed a wild card with officials.

 

“No. I’m looking to play pre-qualifying and that’s it,” Evans said. “My ranking gets me in pre-qualifying. There has been no discussions with anybody about anything, and that’s up to other people, not myself.”

 

On the ladies’ side, six Brits—Katie Boulter, Naomi Broady, Harriet Dart, Katy Dunne, Katie Swan and Gabriella Taylor—as well as Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur were granted main-draw wild cards. One more women’s wild card will be issued.

 

Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt and partner Alex Bolt were awarded a main-draw doubles wild card. Hewitt is partnering Nick Kyrgios at Queen’s Club this week.

 

Former Top 10 standout Jurgen Melzer and veteran Canadian doubles star Daniel Nestor were issued a main-draw doubles wild card.

 

Wimbledon begins on Monday, July 2nd.