logo
Former champion Kvitova handed Wimbledon wildcard

Former champion Kvitova handed Wimbledon wildcard

Perth Now5 hours ago

The champion in 2011 and 2014, Petra Kvitova has been given a wildcard entry to Wimbledon (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP
Two times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been handed a wildcard to the women's singles draw after being ranked too low for direct entry.
The Czech, winner at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, began her comeback from a 17-month maternity break last February.
The 35-year-old, a former world No.2, is currently 572nd in the WTA rankings. She lost in the first round of a WTA 500 event on grass at Queen's Club earlier this month.
Kvitova was the only non-British player on the initial list of wildcards, which includes former British men's number one Dan Evans.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Aussie trio set to roar for Lions in Argentina Test
Aussie trio set to roar for Lions in Argentina Test

Perth Now

timean hour ago

  • Perth Now

Aussie trio set to roar for Lions in Argentina Test

The British and Irish Lions have thrust their three Australian stars into the team for their one-off Test against Argentina in Dublin that will launch their eagerly awaited tour Down Under. Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu and Irish prop Finlay Bealham are both named in the starting lineup while Ireland wing Mack Hansen is among the replacements for Friday's contest, which will be the launchpad for the three-Test trip to take on the Wallabies. It's a real boost for the three Australian-born players that they have been given first crack at playing in red for the Test side, which will be captained by England's Mario Itoje. Itoje leads a starting XV that will feature English playmakers Marcus Smith at fullback, and Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith in the halves. Coach Andy Farrell has put his faith in Scottish skipper Tuipulotu in a centre partnership with Ireland's Bundee Aki after the Melburnian returned from being injured for much of this season. Canberra's Bealham has been pushed straight into the lineup after only being drafted in as a late addition to the squad last week because of Scot Zander Fagerson's injury withdrawal. Hansen, one of Farrell's favourites when he was coaching Ireland, will get his chance to show off his mercurial skills from off the bench. Hansen's compatriot Tadhg Furlong will be given the opportunity to prove his fitness after struggling with a calf injury that ruled him out of Leinster's United Rugby Championship final victory over the Bulls. "Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time. It's a truly special moment and one that very few players ever get to experience," Farrell said. "Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team." The three Australian players will be among 14 players in all making their Lions debut against the Pumas. Argentina have named a much-changed line-up with a first start for centre Justo Piccardo and three potential debutants off the bench. Coach Felipe Contepomi has taken the opportunity to blood several new players in the matchday 23, though the side will be led by an old hand in hooker Julian Montoya. Tomas Albornoz has been selected at flyhalf and forms the halfback pairing with Gonzalo Garcia, while Piccardo and Lucio Cinti are the centres. British & Irish Lions team: 15 Marcus Smith (England), 14 Tommy Freeman (England), 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), 12 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), 10 Fin Smith (England), 9 Alex Mitchell (England); 1 Ellis Genge (England), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 3 Finlay Bealham (Ireland), 4 Maro Itoje (England, capt), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6 Tom Curry (England), 7 Jac Morgan (Wales), 8 Ben Earl (England). Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), 17 Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), 18 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 19 Scott Cummings (Scotland), 20 Henry Pollock (England), 21 Tomos Williams (Wales), 22 Elliot Daly (England), 23 Mack Hansen (Ireland). Argentina team: 15. Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (capt), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martín Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquín Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.

Former champion Kvitova handed Wimbledon wildcard
Former champion Kvitova handed Wimbledon wildcard

Perth Now

time5 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Former champion Kvitova handed Wimbledon wildcard

The champion in 2011 and 2014, Petra Kvitova has been given a wildcard entry to Wimbledon (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP Two times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been handed a wildcard to the women's singles draw after being ranked too low for direct entry. The Czech, winner at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, began her comeback from a 17-month maternity break last February. The 35-year-old, a former world No.2, is currently 572nd in the WTA rankings. She lost in the first round of a WTA 500 event on grass at Queen's Club earlier this month. Kvitova was the only non-British player on the initial list of wildcards, which includes former British men's number one Dan Evans.

‘Good options' to captain Wallabies: Kiss
‘Good options' to captain Wallabies: Kiss

Perth Now

time9 hours ago

  • Perth Now

‘Good options' to captain Wallabies: Kiss

Reds boss Les Kiss says it will be 'fantastic' if Queensland No.8 Harry Wilson retains the Wallabies captaincy but will back any leadership choice made by national coach Joe Schmidt. A 40-man Wallabies squad will be named on Thursday ahead of Australia's opening Test of the year against Fiji in Newcastle on July 5. However, a captain reportedly won't be named until the 23-man match-day squad is named two days before the game. Wilson is the incumbent skipper; however, in what's a competitive battle for back-row spots in the Wallabies' top 15, he's no guarantee to be a starter. Other mooted candidates for the captaincy role include NSW Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon, ACT Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa, France-based lock Will Skelton and Wilson's Reds teammate, star flanker Fraser McReight. 'There are some good leaders from across the states, so I don't think you can get it wrong,' Kiss said in reflecting on the captaincy contenders. 'He (Schmidt) is going to have some good options, and if Harry's got it, fantastic. 'He's done it before, so that's part of the positive side for him to go there again, but that's for Joe to work out. 'Joe's got his plan for that and we'll support whoever Joe selects.' Kiss will take over from Schmidt as Wallabies coach in July next year, but for now he's focused ON his next two coaching tasks, both against the British and Irish Lions next month. The Reds host the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on July 2, and Kiss will also coach the AUNZ Invitational XV meeting tourists at Adelaide Oval on July 12. 'It's a nice little process that I've got ahead of me,' Kiss said. 'There are processes in place about the type of personnel we'll have in that (AUNZ) team, and those things will be sorted out over the next week. 'There are going to be some exciting names that come into play, that's for sure.' The Reds team to meet the Lions could also include some of the Queensland players named in the Wallabies' 40-man squad on Thursday who are in need of football and might miss the final 23 for the Test against Fiji. Allan Alaalatoa is a candidate for the Wallabies captaincy. Supplied Credit: Supplied They include flanker Seru Uru and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who missed latter stages of Queensland's 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with respective knee and shoulder injuries as well as centre Josh Flook, who missed several matches with a hamstring injury. 'We'll have a good understanding about the bulk of our side probably by Friday,' Kiss said. An upset win over the Lions would ease the Reds' pain over being knocked out in the first week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series for the fourth successive year. 'We'll definitely take some learnings forward. It was an unsatisfying end,' Kiss said. 'The boys are … hungry, they're focused, they're committed, and those are the ingredients for us to get out on the training paddock, do what we do well, build a plan and back ourselves. 'Our game is still strong, and it's going to have to be even stronger against the British and Irish Lions.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store