Ward pulls off major shock

Britain’s Alex Ward was a shock qualifier for Wimbledon after Marcus Willis saw his dreams of a Centre Court return dashed.

Ward, ranked a lowly 855 in the world, caused a major shock by beating Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili, a player ranked 679 places higher, to secure his place in today’s main draw.

But Willis, who thrilled the Wimbledon crowd 12 months ago, fell at the final qualifying hurdle when he crashed out in straight sets to Illya Marchenko of Ukraine.

The 26-year-old came through six qualifiers last year before thrilling the Centre Court crowd when he met seventime champion Roger Federer in the second round.

Willis, ranked 374 in the world, had already accounted for world No 148 Andrej Martin and compatriot Liam Broady this week at Roehampton.

But, struggling with a knee injury after an awkward fall, he found world No 117 Marchenko a step too far and lost 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7/4).

With Derbyshire teenager Jay Clarke and Hemel Hempstead’s Katy Dunne also bowing out at the Bank of England Sports Centre, it was left to the unlikely figure of Ward to keep the British flag flying.

The 27-year-old from Northampton has suffered with injures of late, but came through a big-hitting contest 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 7-6 (8/6) 6-1 to land a coveted Wimbledon spot.

Dunne was beaten 7-5 3-6 6-2 by Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium, while teenager Jay Clarke also fell after a brave fight against Sebastian Ofner of Austria, going down 6-2 7-6 (11/9) 6-4 6-4 6-1.