Wimbledon qualification delights Swan

BRISTOL’S Katie Swan has become the first British woman to come through qualifying at Wimbledon for 20 years thanks to victory over Australia’s Arina Rodionova.

The 22-year-old, ranked 290 in the world, swept through the first set and held her nerve in a much tighter second to win 6-0, 6-4 and emulate Karen Cross, the last British woman to achieve that feat when doing so for a second time back in 2001.

Swan, who has played at SW19 three times as a wild card, reacted with delight after the final point was won, and said: “I can’t believe it. I’m so happy to be in the main draw. It’s probably my biggest achievement in tennis.”

A stand-out junior, Swan has seen her progress in the senior game stall because of injury, and she was playing her first event since May due to a thigh problem.

She feared she may be forced to miss Wimbledon, saying: “It was touch and go for a couple of weeks. I just did everything I could to be ready to play here.

“I haven’t played as much as I would have liked in the last year. It’s been a very tough year. My team around me, they know how hard it’s been for me. It’s special to come through qualifying.”

Swan’s nerves were evident in the final game but her serve, a key weapon all day, held up well and she clinched her first match point to set up a clash with 23rd seed Madison Keys.

Swan joins 14 other British players in the singles main draws

Andy Murray will make his return with a tricky-looking clash against Nikoloz Basilashvili, the 24th seed, while teenager Jack Draper has drawn defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Great Britain has three seeded players in Dan Evans, Cameron Norrie and Johanna Konta.

Evans, seeded 22nd, faces Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez, while Norrie, seeded at a grand slam for the first time following his brilliant start to 2021, meets France’s Lucas Pouille.

Konta, the women’s 27th seed, takes on Katerina Siniakova.

Another stand-out British draw pits debutant Francesca Jones against Coco Gauff, while Harriet Dart will play Belgian 13th seed Elise Mertens. Liam Broady takes on Marco Cecchinato, Jay Clarke plays Egor Gerasimov, Samantha Murray Sharan meets Sorana Cirstea and SW19 debutant Jodie Burrage faces Lauren Davis, while Heather Watson, Katie Boulter and 18-year-old Emma Raducanu will all play qualifiers.