Which tennis players have received a Wimbledon wildcard?

Wimbledon have announced the lucky recipients of their singles and doubles wildcards for the 2026 edition this week, with a huge number being given out to British tennis players.

Former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov, 35, and 41-year-old former Australian Open, French Open and US Open champion Stan Wawrinka have been invited into the men’s draw. At the same time, 2026 French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska is currently the only non-Brit to receive a women’s singles wildcard.

But there are still two open spots among the men’s wildcards and one in the women’s to be announced at a later date, which does leave the door open for Serena Williams to make a late bid to play singles.

The 44-year-old retired from the sport just over a month after her first-round defeat to world No.115 Harmony Tan at Wimbledon in 2022, but she is back and will at least play doubles with her sister Venus at SW19 this year.

How do players earn a wildcard at Wimbledon?

Wildcards are more than administrative decisions — they are opportunities that can revive careers, launch new ones, and create unforgettable moments.

These coveted extra spots are given to players who did not automatically qualify for a tennis tournament, usually based on their ranking.

They have been awarded at Wimbledon since 1977 and are at the discretion of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Places are often awarded to players based on their previous performances on the famous grass courts, or to increase British interest

They can also go to star names from the sport who have fallen down the rankings but whose presence could lift the tournament.

In 2001, three-time former runner-up Goran Ivanisevic delighted Centre Court by winning the men's singles title as a wildcard entry, while the Williams sisters have twice won the women's doubles in the same way.

How are wildcards decided at Wimbledon?

The All England Club usually hand out eight wildcards in the men’s and women’s draw to players they deem worthy of a chance to compete when their ranking would not automatically qualify them.

Of the 16 announced in 2025, 15 were British and only three made it beyond the first round.

This year’s allocation again favours local players with Arthur Fery, Toby Samuel, Jack Pinnington Jones and Jacob Fearnley gaining entry to round one in the men’s singles and six Brits — including Harriet Dart — getting into the women’s draw without the need to pre-qualify.

But the organisers have left two spots open on the men’s side and one on the women’s with the option to tempt some more high-profile players on the comeback trail like 2022 finalist Nick Kyrgios and seven-time women’s singles champion Williams.

Who has received a wildcard for the 2026 Wimbledon Championships?

Men’s Singles:

1 Grigor DIMITROV (BUL

2 Jacob FEARNLEY (GBR)

3 Arthur FERY (GBR)

4 Jack PINNINGTON JONES (GBR)

5 Toby SAMUEL (GBR)

6 Stan WAWRINKA (SUI)

7 To be announced

8 To be announced

Women’s Singles:

1 Maja CHWALINSKA (POL)

2 Harriet DART (GBR)

3 Alicia DUDENEY (GBR)

4 Hannah KLUGMAN (GBR)

5 Mika STOJSAVLJEVIC (GBR)

6 Katie SWAN (GBR)

7 Mimi XU (GBR)

8 To be announced

Serena and Venus Williams return to Wimbledon

But the headline from the wildcard announcements that has electrified the tennis world is the return of Serena and Venus Williams.

The American siblings will compete together in doubles for the first time since their second-round exit at the US Open 2022, which itself was the first time they had teamed up in four and a half years.

So it will be a rare treat for Wimbledon crowds to see the 14‑time Grand Slam doubles champions together on court again.

“My daughter Olympia told me that I should play with Venus. She’s always right,” Serena revealed this week.

She also teased the possibility of a Wimbledon singles comeback, responding playfully when asked about the final remaining wildcard.

“Oh my gosh, there’s some left? Would you be interested if I took it? You think I’m ready for singles? I need to go to work.”

Whether she takes that last spot or not, her presence at SW19 already feels like a victory for the sport.