Nine-time Grand Slam winner gives his verdict on Wimbledon’s decision not to award Lois Boisson a wildcard

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With Wimbledon right around the corner, players and fans eagerly anticipated the announcement of this year’s wildcard recipients.

At each of the four Grand Slam tournaments, eight players who haven’t directly qualified for the main draw via ranking are awarded wildcards.

Wildcards often go to players from the host nation of the tournament, or former champions.

The wildcard process can cause controversy, as Wimbledon tournament organisers found out on Wednesday.

Wimbledon decided against awarding Lois Boisson a wildcard, despite her sensational run to the last four of Roland Garros earlier this month.

Reacting to the move, a former nine-time Grand Slam winner weighed in with his thoughts.

John Fitzgerald says it’s Wimbledon’s ‘prerogative’ not to award Lois Boisson a wildcard

Appearing on the Australian Open TV YouTube channel, seven-time Grand Slam doubles and two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion John Fitzgerald gave his verdict on Wimbledon’s Boisson decision.

“It’s Wimbledon’s prerogative; they can pick whoever they want,” he said.

“The cut-off comes before the points come on from Roland Garros, but she’ll be alright next year.”

The Australian also agreed with Wimbledon’s decision to award former champion Petra Kvitova a wildcard.

“It’s their prerogative. The Czech representative on the women’s side is a two-time Wimbledon champion. You’d have to include her, surely,” said Fitzgerald.

Kvitova was the only non-British player awarded a wildcard into this year’s Wimbledon main draw.

The event organisers have been criticised for not giving players from other countries a chance, but how have wildcards been awarded at the other Grand Slam tournaments?

Since the beginning of the 2024 season, no tournament had awarded seven home wildcards, until Wimbledon announced their 2025 lineup.

Grand Slam wildcards (women) since 2024

• 2024 Australian Open – 4 Australian wildcards, 4 non-Australian wildcards
• 2024 French Open – 6 French wildcards, 2 non-French wildcards
• 2024 Wimbledon – 4 British wildcards, 4 non-British wildcards
• 2024 US Open – 4 American wildcards, 4 non-American wildcards
• 2025 Australian Open – 5 Australian wildcards, 3 non-Australian wildcards
• 2025 French Open – 6 French wildcards, 2 non-French wildcards
• 2025 Wimbledon – 7 British wildcards, 1 non-British wildcard

It is, however, important to note that the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open have an agreement where they each allocate one wildcard spot to a player from the other two nations.

In 2025, the Australian Open awarded a wildcard to America’s Iva Jovic and France’s Chloe Paquet, and the French Open handed a main draw spot to Australia’s Destanee Aiava and America’s Jovic.

Wimbledon does not participate in this agreement, and instead awards wildcards at the discretion of the All England Club committee.

Therefore, as Fitzgerald rightly said, it is their prerogative to decide whether or not Boisson is deserving of a wildcard.

Did Lois Boisson really deserve a Wimbledon wildcard?

The French star enjoyed a stellar tournament in Paris, reaching the semi-finals on her tournament debut.

Beating top ten stars Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula, Boisson proved she can hang with the very best in women’s tennis.

However, she has yet to play a professional match on grass, something Wimbledon may well have considered when deciding against awarding her a wildcard.

Boisson will still have a chance to prove herself on the grass and make her way through to the Wimbledon main draw via qualifying.

Entering the qualifying tournament as the highest-ranked player, the Frenchwoman will likely be considered one of the favorites to advance, although it remains to be seen how her game adapts to the surface.

The 2025 Wimbledon qualifying event is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 23.