It seems a bit surreal that it is just three days into the French Open and there is already talk about Wimbledon.
It is only 35 days until the main draw of the grasscourt major starts, and a group of players currently in Paris are hoping they have done enough to receive a wildcard that will make them avoid playing qualifying in Roehampton. In the men’s draw, three players have spoken about their hope to receive a pass, but for different reasons.
Gael Monfils ended his French Open career on Monday evening with a valiant five-set loss to Hugo Gaston. The 39-year-old is playing his final year on the Tour before going into retirement. He is expected to play his last match later this year at the Paris Masters. Before then, he hopes to have one more shot at playing in the Wimbledon main draw.
It was at the tournament in 2005 when Monfils won back-to-back matches at a major for the first time. Unfortunately, since then, he has only reached the fourth round once in 2018 and it is his worst-performing Grand Slam in terms of match wins.
“Nicolas, my agent, wants me to play many tournaments,” Monfils joked after his exit from the French Open.
“I think he will ask for a wildcard in Wimbledon. So we wait and see for this one.
“I know there are a lot of things to that and I feel like a lot of guys deserve it, maybe more than me, so I wait and see.”
Matteo Berrettini also has a case for a wildcard, but the Italian is doubtful that he will be successful in trying for one. A finalist in 2021, he is currently four places outside of the list of direct entrants into the main draw. Although this could easily change in the coming weeks.
The 30-year-old has been hampered by various injury setbacks in recent years that include a right oblique injury that forced him to miss Wimbledon and the US Open last year, as well as an abdominal issue sidelining him from the Australian Open in January. Since reaching the Wimbledon final, injury issues or illness (testing positive for Covid-19 in 2022) have resulted in his missing a total of eight Grand Slam tournaments.
“My agent is here. I don’t know if he’s going to ask for a wild card, but I don’t think they’re going to give me a wild card anyway,” Berrettini said after beating Marton Fucsovics at Roland Garros.
“If I get in, I get in. Otherwise, I’ll play the quallies. I know the level that I have. I know that I’ve been in worse situations in terms of ranking.
“Of course, Wimbledon is one of my favourite tournaments. Last year, I was seeded in Wimbledon, and I couldn’t really compete in the way I wanted to. So for me it’s more important the way I’m competing than what I’m competing for.”
A majority of the wildcards will be handed to British players, which is the common practice for Grand Slams to give passes to their home players. One of those who has illustrated his worthiness for one is Toby Samuel, who is currently at a career high of 159th in the world.
A two-time champion on the Challenger circuit earlier this year, Samuel won three rounds of qualifying in Paris to reach his first major main draw at the age of 23. To put this into perspective, only three other British men have won three rounds of qualifying at the French Open since 1973. His run ended in the first round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 loss to eighth seed Alex de Minaur.
“I’m just taking it one week at a time, trying to do my best and put myself in the best position to get a wildcard.” Samuel told BBC Sport after his loss to de Minaur.
Wimbledon will start on 29th June.
