Danielle Collins Wants Grand Slam Rule Change After Maja Chwalinska Receives Wimbledon Wild Card

Maja Chwalinska thought it would have been the “news of the century” if Wimbledon had handed her the wild card. Six weeks before Wimbledon (cut-off date), Chwalinska was ranked No.116.

So she had to play the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. Well, now, Chwalinska doesn’t need to. On June 16, Wimbledon announced the wild card, and guess what? Chwalinska has received one.

Because she’s ranked No.21, she will also be seeded. She reached her career-best ranking after reaching the French Open final. Although she failed to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the title clash, Chwalinska certainly won the hearts of the tennis world. She made her French Open main draw debut after playing the qualifying rounds. Sam Querrey and Danielle Collins made their feelings known on Chwalinska getting the wild card.

The wildcard with the seed next to her, and that’s something you don’t see too often. And I think because she made the finals of Roland Garros, I think she’s into the main draw. I think if she lost in the semis (like) Lois Boisson the year before – she did not get a wildcard. But for Chwalinska, I think it’s well deserved, and I’m excited to see how her game translates on the grass.

Sam Querrey said on Tennis Channel

Boisson lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff in last year’s French Open semifinal, and the run helped her reach No.65 in the rankings table. But she did not get a wild card for the Wimbledon main draw and lost in her first qualifying match. Collins called for the Grand Slams to reduce the cutoff window for the entry list.

So well deserved [Chwalinska], and like we talked about yesterday, we all kind of agree that if you make the final of a grand slam and you are not on that entry list, you should automatically get some kind of direct acceptance into the tournament. I almost think that the cutoffs for the entry list between French Open and Wimbledon it should be three weeks instead of six.

Danielle Collins said on Tennis Channel

The main draw of Wimbledon starts on June 29. Chwalinska has already played in the main draw (in 2022, reached the second round). Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will enter the tournament as the defending champion. She double-bageled Amanda Anisimova in the final.

Danielle Collins on Serena and Venus Williams’ Wimbledon comeback

Wimbledon has also awarded the wild cards to Serena Williams and Venus Williams for doubles. The Williams sisters, who last won a Major doubles title at the 2016 Wimbledon, will not be playing any warm-up tournaments together before entering SW19, and this disappointed countrywoman Danielle Collins a bit.

I’m a little bit bummed that they’re not going to play a warm-up tournament before, just so we get a little sneak peek preview of what that’s going to be like all these years later. They’re sisters; they know each other so well.

Danielle Collins said on Tennis Channel

Venus and Serena won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon. Serena played her first official match after retirement at the Queen’s Club Championships. She teamed up with Victoria Mboko, and they won their first match by defeating Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, but later handed the walkover to Laura Siegemund and Leylah Fernandez, because the 19-year-old injured her knee during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova.

Serena next paired up with Karolina Muchova for the Berlin Open, but they lost their first match to Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion last lifted a Major by defeating Venus at the 2017 Australian Open. She last won a title at the 2020 Classic against countrywoman Jessica Pegula.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Warned They ‘Won’t Be Able to Rest Easy Anymore’ After Alexander Zverev’s French Open Win