BAD BOY BRIT LANDS £40k WIMBLEDON WILDCARDS

THE decision to award Brydan Klein a wildcard for the men’s singles and doubles at this year’s Wimbledon has led to some disapproval after the British No 5’s bad-tempered behaviour in Nottingham last week. Australian-born Klein (right), who switched allegiance to Great Britain in 2013, was punished by umpire Mohamed Lahyani for ball abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct towards a lineswoman and for shouting: ‘You stupid, stupid person.’ It cost him the match against Sam Groth at the Aegon Open and Klein, 27, was fined £3,500 by the ATP, the governing body for men’s professional tennis. Klein’s complaints about a debatable decision included him allegedly asking Lahyani: ‘Why do we have a 60-year-old lineswoman with glasses on the line?’

Sportsmail understands there are some murmurs of disapproval within British tennis at the All England Club’s decision to give Klein a place in the main draw at Wimbledon for the men’s singles, which carries a minimum £35,000 payout. His doubles wildcard with British partner Joe Salisbury will guarantee him at least £40,375 in prize money in total. Klein, ranked 228 in the world, has a troubled history with the ATP. In 2009, he accepted a six-month ban for racially abusing South African Raven Klaasen at Eastbourne. He was accused of ‘singularly egregious’ behaviour and was alleged to have verbally abused Klaasen and spat at his coach and another player. Other Brits receiving wildcards include James Ward, Heather Watson and Laura Robson but Marcus Willis, who caused a sensation last year with his run through qualifying before being beaten by Roger Federer, must battle through qualifying again in the singles. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will compete at Eastbourne next week as the Serb warms up for Wimbledon.