Dream come true for Britain’s wildcard women
BRITAIN’S Wimbledon wildcards today hailed a “new era” in women’s tennis and said playing at the All England Club was a “dream come true”.
With Andy Murray pulling out through injury, British eyes were on the record number of home female players given entry to the main draw, gaining six of the eight spots.
Close friendships between the women, who are major rivals on court, has been credited with helping to spur them on – and there are hopes this “next generation” will produce a grand slam champion.
Gabriella Taylor, the British No 5, said playing at Wimbledon was a “life-long dream that is coming true”.
She added: “It is incredible to be experiencing this for the first time and I can’t wait. I think I have fully deserved it this year. I have worked really hard. It is great to see the youngsters, the young girls, shooting through the rankings … It is amazing for British tennis that we are slowly getting there with the players and producing some great talent.”
Taylor, 20, is set to play tomorrow along with Katie Boulter, 21, who made her debut last year, Katy Dunne, 23, and Naomi Broady, 28. Londoner Harriet Dart, 21, and 19-year-old Katie Swan, were due on court today.
Taylor said: “I think we do feel like we are a new era of women’s tennis. It is nice to see that and see that talent coming through. I have worked very hard to get to where I am. It won’t stop here and I will be trying to take that step further and break into the top 100.”
Boulter, who last week reached the final of the Fuzion 100 Southsea Trophy, said: “This Wimbledon is a great oppor- tunity for us all to prove ourselves. I feel like it could be my year … I am going to go out there and do everything I can to do the best I can.
“We are all pushing each other and it is great that we are all doing really well. It is a good time for British tennis.”
Dart, from West Hampstead, who was heading into a tough first round match today against former world no 1 Karolina Pliskova, said: “I expect a lot from myself. A lot of us ‘next generation’ have a good chance. We’re all friends and really pleased for each other.”
Doubles player Anna Smith, 29, from Surrey, said it is “the first time in a long while that we have a lot of girls coming through … Wimbledon is a big opportunity … to show what they can do”.