By Kieran Jackson | Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Tommy Haas beat Roger Federer on Stuttgart grass last week and will play Wimbledon next month.
Photo credit: Gerry Weber Open
Tommy Haas had two hopes for the summer season: Staying healthy and receiving a Wimbledon wild card.
The 39-year-old German's wish was granted.
More: Haas Hoping For Wild Cards
Haas, Canadian Denis Shapovalov and a bunch of young Brits are the main beneficiaries Wimbledon wild cards into the men's main draw, as the AELTC Committee announced their initial wild card picks for the 2017 Championships.
Former world No. 2 Haas, who has dropped to 252 in the rankings after a battling injuries and nine surgeries in his career, stunned good friend Roger Federer in Stuttgart last week, and will be hoping for a good showing at SW19 as his career draws to its conclusion.
The 18-year-old Shapovalov, who beat Kyle Edmund at Queen's Club this week and won the Wimbledon boys’ singles title last year, has also been granted a main draw wild card.
“I’ve always dreamt of playing at Wimbledon so this is a huge honour for me.” Shapovalov said in a tweet.
The only other non-British main draw wild card entry is in the ladies' singles, with Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan awarded a spot following her run to the $100,000 ITF title in Manchester last week.
Out of the British contingent, the names which catch the eye include Heather Watson, former girls’ singles winner at SW19, Laura Robson and Naomi Broady, who’ve all been given a main draw spot in the ladies’ singles.
All three have also bene given doubles wild cards, with Watson and Broady playing together, and Robson partnering Jocelyn Rae.
On the men’s side, 21-year-old Cameron Norrie has been granted a wild card also. Norrie, who was the leading men’s player on the U.S. College circuit this year, only recently turned professional, and is given an opportunity to improve his current ranking of 235. Brydan Klein and James Ward have also been granted main draw wildcards, whilst last year’s Wimbledon fairy-tale story Marcus Willis will have to come through qualifying once more.
Gentlemen’s singles main draw wild cards:
Tommy Haas (GER)
Brydan Klein (GBR) Cameron Norrie (GBR)
Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
James Ward (GBR)
Three more men's main draw wild cards still to be announced.
Ladies’ singles main draw wild cards:
Katie Boulter (GBR)
Naomi Broady (GBR)
Zarina Diyas (KAZ)
Laura Robson (GBR)
Heather Watson (GBR)
Three more ladies' main draw wild cards still to be announced.
Freelance journalist Kieran Jackson is covering the British grass court summer in the lead up to Wimbledon for Tennis Now