Go wild for GB girls, Wimbledon
HEATHER WATSON has urged Wimbledon bosses to put Britain first when handing out wild cards this year. The All England Club will face some tough decisions later this month due to an emerging crop of talented home women players. Naomi Broady at 28 is the oldest of a group also including Gabi Taylor, Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Katy Dunne and Katie Swan.
There may be calls for former Wimbledon finalists Eugenie Bouchard, Sabine Lisicki and Vera Zvonareva to be gifted a main-draw place but Watson, 26, an ex-mixed doubles champion at SW19, is in no doubt where the priority should lie.
The British No2, who eased into the second round at Nottingham with a 6-1, 6-3 win over USA’s Daniella Lao, said: “The British girls coming up would deserve the wild cards over somebody who hasn’t done much in the last couple of years.
“It’d be great to give the young ones that experience of playing in their home Grand Slam. When I was given one at 18 I gained a huge amount from it.
“A lot of the GB girls are of a similar age. It would be a great use of them for Wimbledon.”
British No1 Jo Konta also made the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kurumi Nara while Boulter’s excellent year continued as she beat Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-4.
Taylor, the British No5, pushed defending champion Donna Vekic all the way before losing 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 while Swan went down 7-6, 7-5 to Germany’s world No117 Mona Barthel.
In the men’s, James Ward sneaked past German Tobias Simon 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, and Dan Evans beat Darius Koepfer in straight sets but Cameron Norrie lost 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 to Tasuma Ito of Japan. Wild card Jay Clarke lost 6-3, 6-3 to Tobias Kamke. I’ve played in this year there’s been something missing; hopefully this is one of those weeks where I put it all together.”
Defending champion Jordan Spieth is the only member of the world’s top six without a victory this season, with his putting coming under intense scrutiny, but the 24-year-old is confident he can enjoy a strong second half to the season.
“My patience has been tested, just not going into Saturday or Sunday with a legitimate chance to win,” said the former world No1.
“Compared to previous years, the limited number of chances I’ve had on the weekends has been frustrating. I feel like my game is in the best shape it’s been in a long time, including last year.
“My results don’t speak towards that but I feel that way and so I’ll stick with the process, and they’ll surely come at some point.”