Will Former Champ Kvitova and Dan Evans Shine at Wimbledon?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Petra Kvitova returns from maternity leave, eyeing another Wimbledon title.
- Dan Evans looks to make an impact in his tenth Wimbledon appearance.
- Qualifying rounds commence on June 23.
- A blend of established players and new talents will compete.
London, June 18 (NationPress) Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion from Czechia who made her comeback from maternity leave this year, along with Dan Evans, the top British player, have earned wild cards for the main draw of Wimbledon. A diverse group of renowned athletes and emerging tennis talents have been granted entry to The Championships, with qualifying set to start on June 23 and the main draw opening on June 30.
Kvitova made history as the first player born in the 1990s to clinch a Grand Slam title by defeating Maria Sharapova in the 2011 Wimbledon final. She successfully reclaimed the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2014. Currently ranked No. 572, the 35-year-old commenced her comeback journey with a victory over Irina-Camelia Begu in Rome last month.
Evans is gearing up for his 10th appearance in the Wimbledon main draw after achieving his best ranking victory since the Davis Cup in Manchester in 2023 by overcoming Frances Tiafoe at the HSBC Championships this week.
Joining Evans in receiving wild cards are the 2023 boys’ singles champion Henry Searle, Jay Clarke, Jack Pinnington Jones, Johannus Monday, George Loffhagen, and Oliver Crawford.
Meanwhile, Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley, Cam Norrie, and Billy Harris have secured direct entry into the men’s singles.
On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal have all gained direct entry, with Kartal making a return one year after becoming the first British woman since 1997 to reach the third round as a qualifier.
Following her impressive run to the French Open girls’ singles final, Hannah Klugman is set to make her senior Grand Slam main draw debut after narrowly missing out on qualifying last year. She will be joined by fellow rising stars Mimi Xu and Mika Stojsavljevic, the 2024 US Open girls’ singles champion, alongside Francesca Jones, Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage, and Heather Watson.
In the qualifying rounds, five British players received wild cards in both the men’s and women’s draws. The men’s spots are filled by Arthur Fery, Oliver Tarvet, Ryan Peniston, Paul Jubb, and Oliver Bonding, the 2025 Lexus 18U Junior National Champion. Meanwhile, the women’s spots are occupied by Amarni Banks, Lily Miyazaki, Ella McDonald, Amelia Rajecki, and Ranah Stoiber.