Wimbledon 2023 kicks off today and many of the British players competing across the singles and doubles events have participated in the UK Pro League. Two former UK Pro League Champions have secured a place in the singles main draw: our 2020 Champion Liam Broady faces France’s Constant Lestienne in the first round today, and 2021 Champion Sonay Kartal will face USA’s Madison Keys in her first-round match tomorrow.
2021 Champion Sonay Kartal
British no.2 Jodie Burrage and Ryan Peniston, both runners-up in the 2020 finals week, face Caty Mcnally and Andy Murray respectively. Burrage will also be teaming up with Emily Appleton, who has 4 UKPL week wins under her belt, in the doubles event. Harriet Dart and Jan Choinski also compete in their first-round matches today and Arthur Fery- winner of the first-ever UKPL Week- faces the 2021 US Open Champion Daniil Medvedev tomorrow.
Jodie Burrage, runner-up UKPL 2020
George Loffhagen makes his Wimbledon Debut
George Loffhagen makes his debut at Wimbledon tomorrow playing World no. 6 Holger Rune. The 22-year-old received a wildcard into the main draw following an outstanding start to the year which saw him win the first two singles titles of his career, at the Mysuru and Nottingham M25s. Earlier this month, he showed his potential on grass by reaching the quarter-finals of the Rothesay Open. George played his first UK Pro League in November 2022, a few months after he’d returned from a year-long break from playing professionally. With an ATP ranking of 1373 he charged through the week to claim the win, proving his ranking was not reflective of his ability. Fast forward to his next UK Pro League Week Win, in February of this year, Loffhagen had risen nearly 700 places in the rankings. Now sitting at 371 in the ATP ranks, and British no. 9, his rise has been meteoric and his debut at the All England Club is well deserved.
George Loffhagen
More familiar faces pop up in the doubles draw including UKPL Week Winners Maia Lumsden and Julian Cash, as well as Johannus Monday, who kicked his grass season off at the UKPL Week 7 in Felixstowe last month. You may have watched several more UK Pro League players battling in the tough qualifying rounds, a special shout out to Billy Harris and Anna Brogan, who progressed through an impressive 4 rounds, but unfortunately lost their final matches.