Defending Queen’s champion Tatjana Maria said she was surprised not to be offered a wildcard for this year’s HSBC Championships, though she has been touched by the warm response from members and fans at Queen’s Club.
Last year the mother of two produced a memorable run to win the WTA 500 event at Queen’s and received an honorary lifetime membership. Given that recent success, Maria told reporters she had expected — and hoped for — a wildcard to return as champion.
All four available wildcards were instead awarded to British players — Katie Boulter, Fran Jones, Harriet Dart and teenage Mika Stojsavljevic — a decision communicated by tournament director Laura Robson. Maria said she understood the rationale but found it hard to accept as the reigning champion. She added that when she learned of the decision she was surprised, and that many members had approached her to express confusion and support.
Rather than relying on a wildcard, Maria won two qualifying matches on Sunday to secure her place in the main draw — a result that delighted her daughters Charlotte and Cecilia, who were enjoying being at the tournament.
The Lawn Tennis Association said it gives wildcards to British players because it invests in these events to benefit the domestic game, offering development opportunities and the chance for home players to compete at a high level.
Maria believes the policy should be reconsidered in future: she argued that defending champions should be automatically considered for a wildcard out of respect, pointing to examples such as men’s champion Feliciano Lopez receiving one in 2019.
Despite the disappointment, Maria praised the supportive reaction from members and fans at Queen’s and said she was glad to be competing and to prolong the visit with her family.