QUEEN’S TENNIS UPDATES • JAMES WARD, THANASI KOKKINAKIS AWARDED MAIN DRAW WILD CARDS; DEL POTRO, EVANS OUT

Written by: Staff on 16th June 2017

Aegon tennis championships at the Queens Club

QUEEN'S TENNIS UPDATES • JAMES WARD, THANASI KOKKINAKIS AWARDED MAIN DRAW WILD CARDS; DEL POTRO, EVANS OUT

epa04808657 Tennis fans watch a quarter-final match at the Aegon tennis championships between Canada's Milos Raonic and Gilles Simon of France at the Queens Club in London, Britain, 19 June 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE QUEEN’S CLUB

19-25 JUNE, 2017

James Ward, Thanasi Kokkinakis awarded main draw wild cards; Del Potro, Evans out

The Aegon Championships has awarded wild cards to the 2011 semifinalist James Ward and returning Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Both 30-year-old Ward and 21-year-old Kokkinakis have endured injury problems over the last 18 months, but are now fit again. They will take their places alongside a world-class field of players led by defending champion Andy Murray, World No.3 Stan Wawrinka and last year’s Aegon Championships and Wimbledon runner-up, Milos Raonic. Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Marin Cilic, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych are also part of the line-up.

The third wild card has gone to rising British player, Cameron Norrie. Kyle Edmund, who was previously given a wild card, is now a direct entrant into the draw.

Juan Martin del Potro and Dan Evans have both been forced to pull out because of injury. Del Potro has not recovered from the groin injury that forced his withdrawal from s-Hertogenbosch last week, while Evans is still suffering from the calf injury that caused his retirement in Surbiton.

Tournament Director Stephen Farrow, said: “James and Thanasi have had a difficult time with injuries over the last year or two and we are delighted to give them a chance to play in the Aegon Championships main draw. James had a fabulous run to the semifinals in 2011 and we all remember his matches in Great Britain’s Davis Cup win. Thanasi is one of the most talented young players in the sport and it’s great to see him back. We wish Juan Martin del Potro and Dan Evans a speedy recovery and hope to see them next year.”

British players Liam Broady and Ed Corrie have been given wild cards into qualifying, along with the Wimbledon Boys champion, Denis Shapovalov.

The qualifying draw will be made this evening, with the main draw made at 12 noon UK time on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Murray made a career-long commitment to play in the Aegon Championships, and the BBC announced that they will cover the tournament until at least 2024.

The Aegon Championships has been voted ATP-500 Tournament of the Year by the players – the fourth successive year that the event has received a tournament of the year award.

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