Such a feat of tennis fans have not seen so long. Alex Ward has just been the lowest listed player since 1998 who has managed to advance to the main Grand Slam tournament.
He is 27 years old. All his life he competed with the players whose names for an average fan are anonymous. Anyway, no one has heard of Alex Ward yet until now. The British have just achieved their greatest success in their careers. Perhaps he will have the chance to face Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, or maybe even 854 from him, ranked by countryman Andy Murray.
- This promotion is for me everything. I feel amazing. I have never even won a match in Wimbledon qualification. I lost all four of the first skirmishes, "Ward said excitedly.
But now he was happy to smile at him, won three matches. The last after a fierce battle with Teymuraz Gabashvillim 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6: 1.
It is worth adding that prior to qualifying for Wimbledon, his form was not the best. Ward lost more matches and now he can make beautiful plans ... - I will play Federer on the main court - he smiled at the journalists.
Ward is the lowest ranked player since 1998, who entered the Grand Slam tournament. In his career, he was ranked 242th in the rankings.
At Wimbledon in 2016, there was also a talk by Marcus Willis, who was ranked seventh in the ATP ranking. He also qualified for Wimbledon. He even won his first round. In the second he hit Federer and lost quite clearly. For the rest of his life he will remember the standing ovation he got on the main court. Ward's story is known.