Team Bath-MCTA Tennis player Anna Smith and doubles partner Jocelyn Rae will be competing at Wimbledon 2015 after being included in the first set of wildcard entries for the Championships.
Smith and Rae – Britain’s number-one pairing in the Federation Cup this year – have been handed a wildcard in the ladies’ doubles along with Naomi Broady and Emily Webley-Smith, and Johanna Konta and Maria Sanchez.
University of Bath Sports Performance graduate Louise Hunt has also received a wildcard place in the women’s wheelchair doubles, where she will partner Germany’s Katharina Kruger.
Smith and Rae will head to SW19 on the back of impressive performances at recent grass-court tournaments, where they reached the final at both Eastbourne and the Aegon Nottingham Open. That has moved them up to a career-high of 77th in the WTA doubles rankings.
The duo are continuing their Wimbledon preparations at this week’s Aegon Birmingham Open and will face Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic in the first round at 5pm today (Wednesday).
Smith is coached by Dave Sammel, Ian MacDonald and Bob Smith at the University of Bath Sports Training Village. Rae, from Nottingham, also does some of her training with Smith there.
Wimbledon 2015 begins on Monday, June 29, with the ladies’ doubles first round scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of the opening week.
People can try out the tennis facilities at the Sports Training Village for free during the Team Bath Community Activity Day on Saturday, June 20. It is taking place from 12-4pm and more information is available at here.
