BRIT WATCH
MATTHEW LAMBERT’S GUIDE TO THE HOME-GROWN CHALLENGE
MEN: KYLE EDMUND
AGE: 24 WORLD RANKING: 31 SW19 BEST: R3 (2018) Hampered by a knee injury this year and looks to be missing input of Freddie Rosengren, his coach who retired in February. Sneaks into the seedings at No 30. 1ST RD OPPONENT: Today, Jaume Munar (Sp, wr 88) CHANCE OF A BRIT WIN: 4/5
CAM NORRIE
AGE: 22 WR: 49 BEST: R1 (2017, 18) Pushing Edmund for the British No 1 spot after another season of solid progression, especially on the hard courts. With his big backswing on the forehand, can struggle on a nippy grass court.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Denis Istomin (Uz, 109) 3/5
DAN EVANS
AGE: 29 WR: 65 BEST: R3 (2016) Denied a wildcard last year after his cocaine ban but has earned his way in. Won back-to-back titles in Surbiton and Nottingham. One of the few players in the draw who really knows how to play on grass. 1ST RD: Tomorrow Federico Delbonis (Arg, 76) 4/5
JAY CLARKE (WILDCARD)
AGE: 20 WR: 166 BEST: R1 (2018) Working his way up the rankings and won his second Challenger title in Anning, China in April. His grass court season has been a write-off so far, with four first-round defeats.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Noah Rubin (US, 183) 2/5
JAMES WARD (WILDCARD)
AGE: 32 WR: 205 BEST: R3 (2015) Without a win against a top-100 player for three years, he had three in the last two weeks in qualifying for Queen’s and Eastbourne. Playing well after rotten luck with injuries.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Nikoloz Basilashvili (Geo, 16) 2/5
PAUL JUBB (WILDCARD)
AGE: 19 WR: 472 BEST: Debut First Brit to win the prestigious NCAA US colleges singles title. Took big scalps on grass this season, including world No 78 Andrey Rublev. Modelled his game on Novak Djokovic.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Joao Sousa (Por, 66) 2/5
WOMEN: JO KONTA
AGE: 28 WR: 19 BEST: Semi-final (2017) Incredible clay court season with thrilling run to the semi-finals of the French Open. The No 19 seed may be a little short of matches on grass after last-16 exits in Birmingham and Eastbourne.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Ana Bogdan (Rom, 134) 4/5
HEATHER WATSON
AGE: 27 WR: 122 BEST: R3 (2012, 15, 17) Won her first title since 2016 in Japan, albeit below WTA tour level, but she heads into Wimbledon on a run of four defeats in a row.
1ST RD: Today, Caty McNally (US, 164) 3/5
KATIE SWAN (WILDCARD)
AGE: 20 WR: 207 BEST: R2 (2018) Struggled with form and confidence issues in the last 12 months, when she has failed to add to her first tour-level victory at Wimbledon last year. But Swan believes she has turned a corner with her game and mental state.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Laura Siegemund (Ger, 84) 2/5
HARRIET DART (WILDCARD)
AGE: 22 WR: 170 BEST: R1 (2018) Reached her first Grand Slam main draw outside Wimbledon at the start of the year when she won her way into the Australian Open through qualifying.
1ST RD: Tomorrow, Christina McHale (US, 109) 2/5
PS THE MURRAYS ARE HERE, TOO!
Andy will be making his first appearance in the men’s doubles since 2005 and he’s playing with…
PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT (F)
AGE: 28 WR: 21 BEST: 2016 Champ Herbert has won the career Grand Slam of doubles titles with Nicolas Mahut. He’d planned to skip the doubles here, but Murray’s offer was too good to turn down.
1ST RD: Ugo Humbert (Fr) & Marius Copil (Rom) 3/5 Meanwhile, Jamie Murray and fellow Brit Neal Skupski (10th seeds) play Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek. Rankings correct as of last night