With the third Grand Slam, Wimbledon, just weeks away, the initial list of wild cards and direct acceptances into The Championships, Wimbledon 2023 singles main draw and qualifying events.
Continuing the trend of collegians earning opportunities on tour, this initial list of wild cards and direct acceptances included 11 players with ties to college tennis, including two who will be competing in both singles and doubles.
In singles, Ryan Peniston (Memphis) has earned a direct entry into the singles main draw. The Essex native reached the second round of The Championships, Wimbledon 2022 in what was his only Grand Slam main draw appearance. Joining Peniston as a direct entry in the singles main draw will be Arthur Fery (Stanford). The current collegiate standout ended the 2023 season as the No. 3 ranked singles player in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point. This will be the first Grand Slam main draw appearance for Fery.
Earning wild cards into the qualifying singles draw will be current collegians in Toby Samuel (South Carolina) and Johannus Monday (Tennessee). Each player finished within the top ten of the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings and will look to each make their first Grand Slam main draw appearance through qualifying play.
From the doubles draw, seven collegians will be featured in the main draw.
First for the men, Julian Cash (Mississippi St. & Oklahoma St.) and Luke Johnson (Florida & Clemson) are set to pair up after receiving a wild card into the doubles draw. Two teams of current collegians will get their shot at a Grand Slam as Jacob Fearnley (TCU) and Monday will join Connor Thomson (South Carolina) and (Samuel) in the main draw. Samuel and Thompson finished 2023 as the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings.
In the women’s doubles draw, Alicia Barnett (Northwestern) will earn a wild card into the main draw. The current Top-100 player will look to build on her second round finish from 2022 this year when she pairs up with fellow compatriot Olivia Nicholls.
Main Draw Men’s Singles Wild Cards
Ryan Peniston – Memphis (2014-18) (2nd Grand Slam Singles Appearance)
Arthur Fery – Stanford (2020-current) (1st Grand Slam Singles Appearance)
Qualifying Singles Men’s Wild Cards
Toby Samuel – South Carolina (2020-current)
Johannus Monday – Tennessee (2020-current)
Charlie Broom – Baylor & Dartmouth (2017-21)
Doubles Men’s Wild Cards
Julian Cash – Mississippi State & Oklahoma State (2014-18)
Luke Johnson – Florida & Clemson (2012-16)
John Isner – Georgia (2004-07)
Johannus Monday – Tennessee (2020-current)
Jacob Fearnley – TCU (2019-current)
Toby Samuel – South Carolina (2020-current)
Connor Thomson – South Carolina (2019-current)
Doubles Women’s Wild Cards
Alicia Barnett – Northwestern (2012-16)
