The Wimbledon tennis tournament starts today with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz opening proceedings on Centre Court against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini.
But British tennis fans have their sights set firmly on the home contingent, with a record 23 British players in the singles draws – the most since 1984. Leading the charge are two players with strong Putney connections who could provide the spark for a memorable home tournament.
Strong British Representation
Leading the men’s charge is Jack Draper, the 22-year-old from Sutton who sits at world No. 4, lives in Putney, and carries genuine title hopes after his breakthrough 2024 season that included a US Open semi-final and Indian Wells victory.
In the women’s draw, Emma Raducanu returns as British No. 1 after reclaiming the status from Katie Boulter earlier this month. The 2021 US Open champion faces a challenging opener against 17-year-old wildcard Mimi Xu in an all-British first-round encounter on No. 1 Court.
Putney Players in the Spotlight
Southwest London’s Putney features prominently in this year’s British contingent. Cameron Norrie, the 28-year-old former world No. 8, has been based in Putney since turning professional in 2017, though he recently relocated his main residence to Monaco.
Norrie enters the tournament ranked 60th after a challenging period marked by injury and illness, but recent form suggests a revival. He reached the fourth round at the French Open and showed encouraging signs in reaching the Geneva semi-finals. The left-hander’s grass-court credentials remain strong – he reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022, when the crowd’s support was so fervent that Henman Hill was temporarily renamed “Norrie Knoll.”
Joining Norrie is Dan Evans, 35, who earned his wildcard after impressive recent performances, including a notable victory over Frances Tiafoe at Queen’s Club. While now based primarily in Dubai, Evans brings veteran experience and an unpredictable game style that could trouble higher-ranked opponents on grass courts.
Women’s Draw Features Strong British Presence
Katie Boulter remains a formidable contender despite losing her British No. 1 ranking to Raducanu. The 28-year-old faces a stern test against ninth seed Paula Badosa on Centre Court, but her grass-court credentials – including two WTA titles on the surface – make her a genuine threat.
Sonay Kartal, 23, has emerged as another exciting prospect after her breakthrough run to the third round as a qualifier last year. Now ranked 49th in the world and having claimed her first WTA title, Kartal represents the rising generation of British women’s tennis.
The tournament also showcases emerging talent with wildcards awarded to promising teenagers Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, both 16, alongside 17-year-old Mimi Xu – highlighting the growing depth in British tennis.
Tournament Innovations and Prize Money
This year’s Championships feature significant changes, including the first use of automated electronic line calling throughout the tournament – replacing human line judges for the first time in Wimbledon’s 138-year history. Both singles finals have also been moved to 4:00 PM starts instead of the traditional 2:00 PM, aimed at enhancing global television coverage.
Prize money has increased substantially, with singles champions earning £3 million each – an 11% increase from 2024. The total prize pool stands at £53.55 million.
British Medal Hopes
Jack Draper carries the strongest title hopes among the British contingent as the fourth seed, behind top seeds Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev. His rise to world No. 4 and recent form make him a legitimate contender.
Norrie’s experience and grass-court pedigree make him a dangerous opponent despite his current ranking. His familiarity with the courts – having trained extensively at the nearby National Tennis Centre in Roehampton – could provide crucial advantages.
Evans, as the veteran of the group, offers tactical experience and an unpredictable style that has served him well throughout his career. His recent victory over Tiafoe demonstrates he remains capable of troubling higher-ranked opponents.
The Putney connection adds local significance to this year’s tournament, with both Norrie and Evans having spoken about the importance of home support. With the strongest British representation in four decades, there’s genuine optimism that one of the home players could make a deep run in the tournament.
Wimbledon continues through July 13, with coverage available on BBC (UK), ESPN (US), and Tennis Channel.
