Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says the Lawn Tennis Association should stop handing out wildcards to underachieving British players.
Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says the Lawn Tennis Association should stop handing out wildcards to underachieving British players.
Britain had a disappointing Wimbledon this year with no singles player managing to make the fifth day. And Becker told Five Live's Sportsweek: "Wildcards are given to people in their early 20s. That is the wrong signal. If a 22-year-old needs a wildcard all the time then maybe the player is not good enough to be a professional."
The German added: "The ones that get the wildcards are in their early 20s and that's when you are supposed to have made it already as a professional. If you are not in the top 150 in the world by the time you are 23 or 24 then maybe you should look for another job."
Tim Henman and Lee Childs, who made it through qualifying, were the only Britons not to require wildcards into the main draw, although Andy Murray would have been there too had he not been forced to withdraw before the tournament started because of injury.
Henman eventually lost in round two to Feliciano Lopez, and, like Becker, has criticised his compatriots who continue to underperform. - BBC
Becker lambasts British wildcards
Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says the Lawn Tennis Association should stop handing out wildcards to underachieving British players.
Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says the Lawn Tennis Association should stop handing out wildcards to underachieving British players.
Britain had a disappointing Wimbledon this year with no singles player managing to make the fifth day. And Becker told Five Live's Sportsweek: "Wildcards are given to people in their early 20s. That is the wrong signal. If a 22-year-old needs a wildcard all the time then maybe the player is not good enough to be a professional."
The German added: "The ones that get the wildcards are in their early 20s and that's when you are supposed to have made it already as a professional. If you are not in the top 150 in the world by the time you are 23 or 24 then maybe you should look for another job."
Tim Henman and Lee Childs, who made it through qualifying, were the only Britons not to require wildcards into the main draw, although Andy Murray would have been there too had he not been forced to withdraw before the tournament started because of injury.
Henman eventually lost in round two to Feliciano Lopez, and, like Becker, has criticised his compatriots who continue to underperform. - BBC