Memory Lawn July 6, 2020

Second week surprises: Qualifiers, wildcards who've shined at SW19

Over the past two decades, qualifiers and wildcards have taken advantage of their berths in the draw at Wimbledon for stunning runs. Check out notable results for these players on British lawns since 1999.

Before she became a Hall of Famer, Kim Clijsters was a 16-year-old qualifier at Wimbledon in 1999 and made it to the fourth round on her debut. Coming into the event, she was the youngest player in the Top 200. — 01 /18

Before she became a Hall of Famer, Kim Clijsters was a 16-year-old qualifier at Wimbledon in 1999 and made it to the fourth round on her debut. Coming into the event, she was the youngest player in the Top 200.

Jelena Dokic stunned World No.1 Martina Hingis en route to the Wimbledon quarterfinals as a qualifier in 1999. — 02 /18

Jelena Dokic stunned World No.1 Martina Hingis en route to the Wimbledon quarterfinals as a qualifier in 1999.

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Alexandra Stevenson had a magical run to the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1999 out of qualifying, where she beat Dokic in an all-qualifier quarterfinal round. — 03 /18

Alexandra Stevenson had a magical run to the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1999 out of qualifying, where she beat Dokic in an all-qualifier quarterfinal round.

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American qualifier Laura Granville reached the fourth round in 2002, beating Mary Pierce along the way. — 04 /18

American qualifier Laura Granville reached the fourth round in 2002, beating Mary Pierce along the way.

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A year before winning Wimbledon at 17 in 2004, Maria Sharapova was a wildcard entry in 2003, and reached the fourth round. — 05 /18

A year before winning Wimbledon at 17 in 2004, Maria Sharapova was a wildcard entry in 2003, and reached the fourth round.

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After winning junior Wimbledon in 2005, Agnieszka Radwanska was awarded a wildcard in 2006, and made the fourth round before losing to Clijsters. — 06 /18

After winning junior Wimbledon in 2005, Agnieszka Radwanska was awarded a wildcard in 2006, and made the fourth round before losing to Clijsters.

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Qualifier Séverine Beltrame was a quarterfinalist in 2006, where she beat three seeds before losing to eventual runner-up Justine Henin. — 07 /18

Qualifier Séverine Beltrame was a quarterfinalist in 2006, where she beat three seeds before losing to eventual runner-up Justine Henin.

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Zheng Jie had a history-making Wimbledon run in 2008: the first Chinese woman to ever reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal, she was the first wildcard to do so at the tournament. Along the way, she beat World No.1 Ana Ivanovic for her first Top 10 win. — 08 /18

Zheng Jie had a history-making Wimbledon run in 2008: the first Chinese woman to ever reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal, she was the first wildcard to do so at the tournament. Along the way, she beat World No.1 Ana Ivanovic for her first Top 10 win.

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Before reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open as a wildcard in 2009, American Melanie Oudin reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier, beating No.6 seed Jelena Jankovic en route. — 09 /18

Before reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open as a wildcard in 2009, American Melanie Oudin reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier, beating No.6 seed Jelena Jankovic en route.

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Estonian Kaia Kanepi reached her first of two Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2010 as a qualifier, losing out to Petra Kvitova in a thrilling 4-6, 7-6(8), 8-6 match after having five match points. — 10 /18

Estonian Kaia Kanepi reached her first of two Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2010 as a qualifier, losing out to Petra Kvitova in a thrilling 4-6, 7-6(8), 8-6 match after having five match points.

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In 2011, future finalist Sabine Lisicki joined Zheng as a wildcard to reach the women's semifinals, beating reigning French Open champion and No.3 seed Li Na and No.9 seed Marion Bartoli en route. — 11 /18

In 2011, future finalist Sabine Lisicki joined Zheng as a wildcard to reach the women's semifinals, beating reigning French Open champion and No.3 seed Li Na and No.9 seed Marion Bartoli en route.

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Yaroslava Shvedova's 2012 run was historic in a pair of ways: as a wildcard, she reached the fourth round, and she became the first player in the Open Era to win a 'golden set' at Wimbledon. — 12 /18

Yaroslava Shvedova's 2012 run was historic in a pair of ways: as a wildcard, she reached the fourth round, and she became the first player in the Open Era to win a 'golden set' at Wimbledon.

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Czech Tereza Smitkova had a dramatic run to the fourth round as a qualifier in 2014, beating Hsieh Su-wei and reigning 's-Hertogenbosch champion CoCo Vandeweghe before losing to Lucie Safarova. — 13 /18

Czech Tereza Smitkova had a dramatic run to the fourth round as a qualifier in 2014, beating Hsieh Su-wei and reigning 's-Hertogenbosch champion CoCo Vandeweghe before losing to Lucie Safarova.

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Italy's Camila Giorgi put herself on the tennis map with a fourth round Wimbledon showing as a qualifier in 2012, beating compatriot Flavia Pennetta and Nadia Petrova along the way. — 14 /18

Italy's Camila Giorgi put herself on the tennis map with a fourth round Wimbledon showing as a qualifier in 2012, beating compatriot Flavia Pennetta and Nadia Petrova along the way.

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Seven years after reaching a career-high ranking of World No.35, Belarus' Olga Govortsova reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time as a qualifier at Wimbledon in 2015. — 15 /18

Seven years after reaching a career-high ranking of World No.35, Belarus' Olga Govortsova reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time as a qualifier at Wimbledon in 2015.

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In the midst of a 2017 comeback season following a career-threatening back injury, Petra Martic reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier. — 16 /18

In the midst of a 2017 comeback season following a career-threatening back injury, Petra Martic reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier.

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Russian Evgeniya Rodina had her best-ever Wimbledon in 2018 as a qualifier, beating Madison Keys before losing to Serena Williams on Centre Court in a fourth round match between two moms. — 17 /18

Russian Evgeniya Rodina had her best-ever Wimbledon in 2018 as a qualifier, beating Madison Keys before losing to Serena Williams on Centre Court in a fourth round match between two moms.

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As the youngest qualifier at Wimbledon in the Open Era, Coco Gauff thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with a fourth round showing in 2019. — 18 /18

As the youngest qualifier at Wimbledon in the Open Era, Coco Gauff thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with a fourth round showing in 2019.

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