Murray, Alcaraz, Venus get Wimby wild cards

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The third Grand Slam of the season begins in less than two weeks.

And Wimbledon announced Wednesday that Andy Murray (no surprise), rising Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz and five-time women’s singles champion Venus Williams are among those who have received wild cards for the singles main draws.

Murray, who put the British Wimbledon dry spell to rest with his 2013 title (and won it again in 2016), has struggled to stay on court since a hip resurfacing procedure in 2018.

His victory over Benoit Paire Monday at Queen’s Club was an encouraging return, since he’d been out of competition since March.

*Andy Murray returned Tuesday at Queen’s Club and beat Benoit Paire. (TennisTV)*

Williams, who currently is ranked 103 after falling out of the top 100 a months ago (and as of the moment, just missed the cut), has struggled of late – notably with her movement.

She is 2-7 on the season. Her last victory was at the Australian Open in February, where she defeated Kirsten Flipkens in the first round.

Williams is 4-17 going back to the 2019 US Open.

But she won the title in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Alcaraz on the rise

At the deadline, the 18-year-old Alcaraz was ranked No. 114, but was on the rise. The next week, he won a Challenger in Portugal to leap inside the top 100 for the first time. With that ranking, he would have made the main draw on his own.

After qualifying at Roland Garros and reaching the third round, the teenager stands at a career high No. 78.

There are eight wild cards in each of the men’s and women’s singles.

The three remaining ones on the men’s side are yet to be announced; the two on the women’s side that weren’t allocated today will not be used.

Those spots will be taken by the two next up on the women’s entry list.