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The Wimbledon championships begin on Monday and even though Andy Murray ’s chances of winning a third title are incredibly slim because of his longstanding injury problems, there is plenty of British interest.
Thirteen British singles players will take to the courts of the All England Club on Monday and Tuesday as The Championships begin.
Five players have earned direct entry while eight more have been given wild cards.
Here, Paul Newman looks at the home contenders.
Show all 12 1 /12Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Johanna Konta (aged 27, world No 22) Has recently found her best form of the year after an up-and-down start to 2018, which she began as world No 9. Lost in second round of Australian Open to Bernarda Pera (world No 123) and in first round of French Open to Yulia Putintseva (world No 98). Reached first final of year on grass in Nottingham before losing to Ashleigh Barty. Having reached last year’s Wimbledon semi-finals, needs a good run to avoid tumbling down world rankings.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Kyle Edmund (aged 23, world No 18) Reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at Australian Open in January, played in his first tour-level final at Marrakech in April and broke into world’s top 20 for first time in May. Grass is not his best surface, but feels he has never played better on it than he has this year. Reached this week’s quarter-finals at Eastbourne, where he beat Andy Murray for first time.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Heather Watson (aged 26, world No 88) Began year promisingly by reaching semi-finals in Hobart but then lost eight tournament matches in a row before arresting her slide at end of May. Usually performs well on grass but form in recent weeks has been patchy. Has reached third round at Wimbledon three times, losing to Agnieszka Radwanska in 2012, to Serena Williams in 2015 and to Victoria Azarenka in 2017.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Katy Dunne (aged 23, world No 217) Has climbed 84 places in world rankings this year after a series of good performances on the ITF circuit, including two victories over Laura Robson. Failed in all six of her previous attempts to qualify for Wimbledon, winning only two matches in the process, but has been given a wild card this year.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Liam Broady (aged 24, world No 175) Is only 21 places off his career-high position in world rankings but fell at first hurdle in his first three grass-court tournaments of 2018 at Surbiton, Nottingham and Ilkley. Beat Australia’s Marinko Matosevic on his Wimbledon debut three years ago and lost to Andy Murray in first round on his only subsequent appearance one year later. Playing this year courtesy of a wild card.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Katie Swan (aged 19, world No 207) Was runner-up in Australian Open girls’ singles four years ago and then became Britain’s youngest Fed Cup player, but progress subsequently slowed, partly because of injuries. Form has picked up since she joined forces with Heather Watson’s former coach, Diego Veronelli. Won an ITF title in Spain last month and has climbed 92 places in world rankings since start of year. Making her second appearance in the main draw at Wimbledon – again courtesy of a wild card – after losing to Timea Babos first time out two years ago.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Jay Clarke (aged 19, world No 236) Will be making his Wimbledon debut thanks to a wild card, though he came close to reaching main draw last year, when he lost to Sebastian Ofner in five sets in final round of qualifying. Has climbed 132 places in world rankings in last 12 months but has never beaten an opponent ranked in world’s top 100.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Cameron Norrie (aged 22, world No 79) Was ranked No 243 in world at start of last year’s grass-court season but has made great progress since. Qualified for last year’s US Open, where he won a Grand Slam match for first time, and made his biggest breakthrough in Davis Cup in February when he beat Roberto Bautista Agut (world No 23) on clay in Spain. Reached his first tour-level semi-final after beating John Isner in Lyon in May.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Gabriella Taylor (aged 20, world No 182) Was ranked No 323 in world at start of this year but has not looked back since winning three ITF tournaments in Australia in February and March. Beat Heather Watson in first round at Surbiton in her first European grass-court tournament of year before losing to Conny Perrin in quarter-finals. Received wild card into Wimbledon this year having failed to qualify in four previous attempts.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Harriet Dart (aged 21, world No 181) Started 2018 ranked No 315 in world but is currently at career-high position after making a semi-final and two quarter-finals in her first three tournaments of grass-court season. Has lost in qualifying at Wimbledon for last two years and is in main draw thanks to wild card.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Katie Boulter (aged 21, world No 144) Has climbed 91 places in world rankings since her Wimbledon debut last year, when she lost a tight three-set match against experienced American Christina McHale. Reached first tour-level quarter-final earlier this month by beating Yanina Wickmayer and Sam Stosur in Nottingham. Has won ITF tournaments this year in Japan and Portugal.
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Wimbledon 2018: Britons in focus Naomi Broady (aged 28, world No 138) Reached career-high position of No 76 in world rankings two years ago but dropped out of top 100 in February last year and has not been back since, meaning she needed a wild card to play at Wimbledon this time. Has a big game which can make her dangerous on grass but in six appearances in main draw at Wimbledon has won only one match.
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Click through the gallery above to learn more about the home hopefuls.
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