Triple Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has hit out at the wildcard system used to give British players a chance of Grand Slam action. Every year a handful of British men and women are given a free-ride straight into the first round draw at the All England Club, despite their world rankings being far too low to merit a place in the field.
And German Becker, who now works as a television commentator, says that it is pointless giving players in their 20s wildcards because if they need one by that age, they will never make it as a top level player. "What strikes me is there are no good British teenagers appearing," he told BBC radio. "The wild cards are given to people in their early 20s. That is the wrong signal.
"If you are not in the top 150 in the world by the time you are 23 or 24 you should look for another job." Becker insists it is imperative to get more British youngsters playing the game. He added: "You need to see them at 12, 14 and 16 years old.
Then they have a higher chance of qualifying and actually winning the Wimbledon title." Six-time Grand Slam champion Becker in 1985 became the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17.
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