Maria Sakkari said she believed she deserved a wildcard for the tournament she won last year, after being left out of the main draw despite being the defending champion. Speaking after learning that all wildcards had been allocated to British players, Sakkari said she was surprised by the decision and felt that a titleholder should automatically be considered for entry the following year.
Sakkari won the event in 2025, beating four top-20 players on her way to the title and becoming the oldest winner of a WTA 500 tournament. She was watched by her two daughters during the victory run. Although she is ranked world No. 52, her position is not high enough for direct acceptance into the 28-player main draw. However, her ranking is still higher than all four British players who received wildcards this year.
The wildcard recipients were Katie Boulter, ranked No. 73, Fran Jones at No. 98, Harriet Dart at No. 160, and Mika Stojsavljevic at No. 261. Sakkari said that her previous success at the event should have counted for more, noting that her triumph was recent and not something that happened years ago. She argued that the treatment of a reigning champion should be standard practice in tennis, especially when a player returns after winning the same tournament.
A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association defended the decision, saying the organization invests in staging these events for the benefit of British tennis. The LTA said the tournaments are intended to give fans the chance to see international players, while also supporting British competitors with opportunities to gain experience, improve their rankings, and develop their careers.
The LTA added that British players have achieved success and breakthrough results at these events in the past, which it said demonstrates the value of awarding wildcards to home players. The discussion has highlighted the balance tournament organizers face between rewarding past champions and using wildcard spots to support domestic talent.
Sakkari’s comments reflect a broader debate in tennis over how tournaments should distribute limited main-draw spots. Defending champions often expect some form of recognition, particularly when their ranking is not quite high enough for automatic entry. At the same time, tournament organizers frequently use wildcards to promote local players and invest in national development.
The issue has drawn attention because Sakkari’s ranking would have placed her ahead of every British wildcard recipient, even though the tournament chose to prioritize homegrown players. Her remarks underline the frustration felt by former champions when they are unable to defend a title they won only one year earlier.
