Wimbledon choose NOT to offer wildcard to French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson after cruel ‘deodorant' jibe from Brit
WIMBLEDON chose NOT to give a French Open semi-finalist a wildcard.
But they did give the Brit who made a cruel "deodorant" jibe about her a spot in the main draw.
4
4
4
Lois Boisson, 22, hit headlines in April after Harriet Dart took a mean swipe at her personal hygiene.
At a change of ends during her 6-0 6-3 defeat to the Frenchwoman, Dart inexplicably asked the umpire to "tell her to wear deodorant" because "she smells really bad".
Boisson hit back with a brilliant quip to the unkind comments, jokingly writing that "Dove apparently need a collab".
And not only did she breeze to an easy win and her classy reputation enhanced, but she then had the best fortnight of her life with a stunning run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
Given a wildcard by the French Tennis Federation after an ACL injury saw her slump to world No361, Boisson enjoyed a stunning run.
She beat No3 seed Jessica Pegula and No6 seed Mirra Andreeva in front of a raucous home crowd, Boisson was eventually knocked out by Coco Gauff, who lifted the trophy.
As well as earning £578,000 - five times more than the rest of her career prize money - she also jumped up to 67 in the WTA world rankings.
That would ordinarily be high enough for direct entry into the majors, but the Wimbledon cut-off was before the rankings updated after the French Open.
So Boisson was reliant on a wildcard spot in the main draw - but was snubbed by the All England Club.
Of the eight wildcards handed out for the women's singles, seven went to British players - including Dart and 16-year-old rising star Hannah Klugman.
Wimbledon finals are to be broadcast on new channel
The other was for two-time champ Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic following her return from maternity leave.
Instead, Boisson used her protected ranking of 153rd from before the injury to secure a qualifying place for Wimbledon, where she will play her first professional match on grass.
But tennis fans could not believe the call from the AELTC to overlook her for a place in the 128-player main draw.
One said: "I'm genuinely shocked Lois Boisson was denied a Wimbledon wild card… I hope she makes it through the qualifiers."
Another wrote: "Totally understand many wildcards for Wimbledon being handed to British players, but it's disappointing there isn't one for Lois Boisson as well.
"Now inside the top 70 after Roland Garros - it would have been good to see her in the main draw. Hope she comes through qualifying."
Wimbledon 2025 Wildcards
GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES
1 Jay CLARKE (GBR)
2 Oliver CRAWFORD (GBR)
3 Daniel EVANS (GBR)
4 George LOFFHAGEN (GBR)
5 Johannus MONDAY (GBR)
6 Jack PINNINGTON JONES (GBR)
7 Henry SEARLE (GBR)
8 To be announced
LADIES' SINGLES
1 Jodie BURRAGE (GBR)
2 Harriet DART (GBR)
3 Francesca JONES (GBR)
4 Hannah KLUGMAN (GBR)
5 Petra KVITOVA (CZE)
6 Mika STOJSAVLJEVIC (GBR)
7 Heather WATSON (GBR)
8 Mingge XU (GBR)
GENTLEMEN'S QUALIFYING SINGLES
1 Oliver BONDING (GBR)
2 Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER (NOR)
3 Arthur FERY (GBR)
4 Paul JUBB (GBR)
5 Ryan PENISTON (GBR)
6 Oliver TARVET (GBR)
7 To be announced
8 Wild Card Play-off place
9 Wild Card Play-off place
LADIES' QUALIFYING SINGLES
1 Emily APPLETON (GBR)
2 Amarni BANKS (GBR)
3 Renata JAMRICHOVA (SVK)
4 Ella MCDONALD (GBR)
5 Yuriko Lily MIYAZAKI (GBR)
6 Amelia RAJECKI (GBR)
7 Ranah STOIBER (GBR)
8 Wild Card Play-off place
9 Wild Card Play-off place
And a third added: "Roland Garros has never issued a WC to a British woman player. Wimbledon has a long memory."
The French Open usually gives a wildcard to Australia and the United States, the hosts of the other two majors - but not to Great Britain.
On the men's side, seven of the eight main-draw wildcards have been confirmed - with all of them so far going to Brits.
That leaves three-time Grand Slam champ Stan Wawrinka's hopes of playing at a 19th Wimbledon hanging by a thread.
The veteran turned 40 in March but is now down at world No155 and not on the qualifying entry list.
Dan Evans is the standout Brit along with Jay Clarke and in-form Oliver Crawford.
Wimbledon gets underway on June 30 - with the finals over the weekend of July 12-13.
4
Tennis stars' new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The secrets of Nottinghamshire's remarkable rise: How an injection of youth, clever recruitment and the evolution of Haseeb Hameed has helped charge to County Championship summit
Halfway up the hill, Nottinghamshire are looking down on the rest of the County Championship. As first-class action returns to domestic cricket this weekend, even their most fervent fans would be forgiven for thinking the Division One table has been turned upside down.
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Former Premier League football star 'is declared bankrupt' - but says at £2million mansion he had 'no idea' about legal ruling
A former Premier League footballer who has been declared bankrupt is insisting he had 'no idea' all his valuable assets could now be seized. Lee Clark, 52, an ex-midfielder for Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham, said yesterday from his £2m mansion that he was oblivious to the risks. This is despite his bank accounts and savings now being potentially earmarked to pay unsecured creditors, if the debt is not addressed. The petitioner was a finance firm called One Stop Business based in York. Mr Clark told the Mirror from his house in Jesmond, Newcastle: 'I have no idea. I have no comment to make I know nothing.' The former player made 200 appearances at Newcastle United before moving to Sunderland in 1997 after signing a £2.5million deal. But his decision to war a T-shirt bearing the slogan 'Sad Mackem B*****' at the 1999 FA Cup final angered a number of fans. He then moved to Fulham before a brief return to Newcastle. Following the end of his playing career in 2006, Mr Clark managed Huddersfield, Birmingham City and Blackpool, spending time in Sudan and Oman. His son, Bobby, went on to play for Liverpool before joining RB Salzburg. News of Mr Clark's financial situation comes after ex-football ace Trevor Sinclair also declared bankruptcy last week. Last year, the Mail revealed Mr Clark regretted wearing the 'Sad Mackem B****d' t-shirt that ended his Sunderland career. Speaking to Mail Sport, he said: 'Of course, I've got regrets. It was like biting the hand that feeds you. 'There were no camera phones then, just the old disposable ones and a few cameras clicked and it came out a few weeks later. It made my position at Sunderland untenable.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
King Charles has delighted Ascot racegoers for four consecutive days in a display that proves that, at 77, the Monarch has staying power
Dapper in his morning suit, doffing his top hat to the ladies and beaming with delight at being surrounded by family and friends, King Charles proved he has as much staying power as the racehorses at Royal Ascot this week. Despite still undergoing regular weekly treatment for cancer more than a year after his initial diagnosis, His Majesty braved soaring temperatures to attend the world-famous race meet each day. Indeed the Mail understands that he has been so buoyed by the experience that he also plans to attend today too, his fifth day in a row. But there has been a serious side to the King's attendance: both he and his wife, Queen Camilla, feel strongly that Royal Ascot is an important showcase for both the British racing industry and the UK as a global tourist attraction, more generally. Indeed, the Berkshire racecourse has seen record attendance figures all week and, according to head of corporate affairs, Will Aitkenhead, seeing the monarch and his family is an intrinsic part of what makes the event so popular with the public. Describing how the course was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, he explained: 'Three hundred years later, we are still putting on top class racing. 'Thirteen monarchs through to His Majesty The King now. 'The support of the Royal Family for the meeting is incredible. People really look forward to seeing them here. 'Sometimes they have runners on the day and sometimes they are just here to support the industry, but either way they are an intrinsic part of the day. 'We welcome guests from around the world in particular America, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, UAE and across Europe. Royal Ascot is also broadcast in 180 countries. Horses from Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Australia, America, Ireland and Qatar compete, and lots of jockeys from overseas as well. Royal Ascot is a huge soft power asset for Britain.' A royal aide agreed, stressing how much Charles, 77, had embraced the 'sport of kings' so loved by his late mother and enjoyed interacting with so many members of the public, adding: 'The King feels it is important to show support for what is a huge industry and global showcase for the UK, especially given the number of high-level international visitors it attracts. 'He also genuinely enjoys the chance to catch up with old friends, celebrate royal tradition and see members of the wider public particularly given the [health] issues [he has endured] over the last year.' Indeed jovial Charles, 76, was seen yesterday affectionately kissing the hands of his stylish niece, Princess Eugenie, and her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, who was wearing a vintage 1991 Catherine Walker outfit pulled from her wardrobe with a Jess Collett hat and Ethan K handbag. He also appeared entranced by his niece, Zara Tindall, who rocked the trouser suit look now permitted in the Royal Enclosure with a stylish powder blue two-piece. The King's own style nod has been to wear a different waistcoat with his morning suit each day – in pale shades of baby pink and blue or primrose yellow. His wife, Queen Camilla, looked cool in a white chiffon dress with embroidered flowers by Anna Valentine with a white feathered Philip Treacy hat and Queen Elizabeth's 'raspberry pip' diamond brooch. Among the other stars catching the action was Harry Potter creator, JK Rowling, who wore an oversized blue hat.
