Wimbledon: LTA changes wildcard policy for British players

Naomi Broady was the only British wildcard at Wimbledon 2014 to get past the first round

A world ranking inside the top 250 will no longer be enough to earn British players a wildcard at Wimbledon.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) previously advised the All England Club of the wildcard entries, with a policy to select top-250 players.

But an LTA spokesperson says it now plans to nominate those who "have the best chance of performing well".

Of the eight players given wildcards in the 2014 singles main draw, only Naomi Broady won her first-round match.

LTA chief executive Michael Downey and director of player development Bob Brett, both of whom joined the governing body in the past two years, were known not to be fans of the previous criteria.

"This revised approach will enable the LTA to give consideration to attributes in addition to rankings," an LTA spokesperson added.

"These additional attributes will include attitude, professionalism, game development and recent form."

Improved prize money at the Grand Slams has made wildcards increasingly valuable, with last year's first-round losers taking home £27,000.

The new policy is likely to favour younger players, while those who have received a number of wildcards in the past will have to do a lot to prove they deserve one.