Yesterday marked a landmark day for British tennis at Wimbledon qualifying, as we move on to the final round before the main draw.
For those still left in, they are just one win away from ultimate glory, securing their spot in the main draw of not just any Grand Slam, but their home event.
There is nothing more prestigious.
The boost this could provide to some of their careers could be life-changing too, making today’s round of qualifying all the more intriguing as four Brits prepare for action.
What British tennis players are still in Wimbledon qualifying?
Heather Watson arguably headlines the four players still left in qualifying, as by far the most experienced from the quartet.
However, she also has the toughest task of the bunch, set to face the top-seeded Maria Timofeeva for that main draw spot.
The other three Brits left are all men, with Billy Harris being the only seeded player among them.
Oliver Tarvet is a name many might remember from last year, who qualified to faced Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court in the second round.
Meanwhile, Max Basing is bidding to reach the first Grand Slam main draw of his career.
Dan Evans speaks after losing his last-ever singles match
One of the saddest stories of this round of Wimbledon qualifying was Dan Evans’ loss, as he was beaten 7-5, 6-0 by Tristan Schoolkate.
Despite all the fanfare before the match, with many angry that Evans was not awarded a Wimbledon main draw wildcard, the Brit remained magnanimous afterwards.
He spoke on-court afterwards: “Winning and losing – it’s the best thing, isn’t it.
How badly treated do you feel Dan Evans has been by Wimbledon?
”This is probably the wrong analogy, but it’s probably the best drug in the world, if that makes sense. You feel so good, and then have match points and lose, you feel so bad, you think the world’s over, but it really isn’t. It’s just so quick to being good and then to being bad. One week, you can be awful, lose seven [matches] in a row, and then you can win [a title] in Washington.
“It gives you a chance every week, which is like no other job or sport.”
What other notable names are still in Wimbledon qualifying?
On both the men’s and women’s sides, there are a handful of notable non-British names who remain in the hunt for a main draw spot.
One such player is Harmony Tan, who is making the most ironic of returns to form, given that Serena Williams will make her singles comeback at Wimbledon.
The Frenchwoman was the last person to inflict defeat on the 23-time Grand Slam champion here at the All England Club, doing so in 2022.
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Also, former Grand Slam champion Bianca Andreescu is just one win away from her sixth main draw appearance at Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, for the men, Jaime Faria is probably the biggest name left in the draw, as a player who has previously reached the third round of a Grand Slam before.
Other names of note are Hugo Gaston, Roman Safiullin and Mackenzie McDonald.
