Emma Raducanu, Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka all face Wimbledon wait after Entry List confirmed

WTA
Wednesday, 22 May 2024 at 13:12
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The Entry List for Wimbledon was confirmed on Wednesday and a few glaring omissions were either in the Main Draw list or the Alternates/Qualifying with Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki.and Simona Halep all facing a wait.
Raducanu is of course most likely to get a wildcard into the tournament. Being a Brit and a popular draw at the tournament, she has currently entered qualifying. But is more likely if she doesn't get through via alternates to seal a wildcard.
She may bide her time instead and do similar to Australian Open and Roland Garros and wait in case of any withdrawals as of course this is preferred to a normal wildcard. Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki have both entered into qualifying.

Osaka in qualifying, Kerber and Venus WIlliams among wildcards?

Osaka is perhaps more surprising, but this is due to her protected ranking running out. She can no longer use it after Roland Garros as she has had her allocation. So she has to either play qualifying or rely on a wildcard. The former World No.1 is more likely to play qualifying as the race for wildcards is likely to be fierce and given that she has played lower level this season is more likely to go through the rigours than other players.
Kerber hasn't entered at all with her protected ranking being too low. But she is a former champion so is more likely to get a wildcard. Wozniacki has entered qualifying unlike Roland Garros. Her father Piotr mooted this earlier in the week by saying that she will attempt to get a wildcard but is more likely to enter the qualifying at SW19. She has done so. Halep is unlikely to get one though.
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Angelique Kerber (pictured) as a former champion is a likely lock.
This is due in part to the previous stance surrounding Maria Sharapova. Despite protesting her innocence, Halep will likely fall under the same banner of not getting one after they made a stand previously after similar with Sharapova who was also a former champion. As a result there is set to be less leeway and aside from a qualifying wildcard, she is unlikely to play Wimbledon.
One name that hasn't been mooted but is likely to get one if she decides to return during the grass court season is Venus Williams. The 43-year-old tends to play Wimbledon every year. She is always a lock for a wildcard due to being a five-time champion so is more likely to suit the criteria than others.
But this also depends on the Brit allocation. Wimbledon usually give 6/8 to British players normally. But may give five this year with Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Katie Boulter all likely qualifying through the Main Draw route. So it gives more scope to wildcards depending on what is needed. As one wildcard storm concludes though in the form of Roland Garros, another begins with Wimbledon.
With many big names deciding to return this season and protected rankings now being a factor, it serves as a real question mark and even more so than other majors who will get them. Especially when Wimbledon have more scope to give them to non British names than other Grand Slams. But overall as the Entry List has been revealed, wildcard questioning will begin in the run-up to Wimbledon. Likely with some conjecture also on who gets them.

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