In an ideal world, players would rather directly qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon than have to battle through three rounds of qualifying at nearby Roehampton.
With their place in the main draw guaranteed, those players can compete at tour-level events on grass – which offer far greater prize money and ranking points than Wimbledon qualifying – to get match practice on the lawns.
Yet as Wimbledon unfolds, it’s clear that players who gritted their way through the field at Roehampton have fared better at the All England Club in 2025.
PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode of The Tennis
Four qualifiers have reached the third round, while another two who competed at Roehampton – Solana Sierra and Marton Fucsovics – remain alive in the main draws as lucky losers.
By contrast, just three of the 11 grasscourt lead-in tournament champions have survived the first two rounds. Of the eight winners to have exited already, six fell in round one.
On this week’s episode of The Tennis, Australian pros Luke Saville and Jaimee Fourlis – who have both previously qualified for Wimbledon – talked about how beneficial it could be to arrive at the tournament via this route.
"There's something very special when you do qualify and you earn that right to go into the locker room and walk around Wimbledon,” said Saville, who qualified three years in a row from 2014 to 2016.
WIMBLEDON: Anisimova, pundits’ semifinalist, begins with double bagel
“If you want to see desperate tennis players, go to the last round of qualies for Wimbledon, because as Jaimee alluded to, you're fighting to get into that main draw.
“You kind of feel like… you have to earn that right to get into the main draw [and access the main site at the All England Club], rather than here at the Australian Open, or the other Slams, you're at least playing on site in the qualies.
"If you get through, and your matches haven't been too long, you have great preparation going into the main draw, and we see quite a few qualifiers in the third round.”
In the men’s draw alone, three qualifiers – Nicholas Jarry, Adrian Mannarino and August Holmgren – have progressed to the last 32.
Holmgren (pictured), a 27-year-old from Denmark ranked No.192, saved three match points in the second round to stun 21st seed Tomas Machac, while Jarry came back from two-sets-to-love down to oust No.8 seed Holger Rune.
On the women’s side, French qualifier Diane Parry shocked 12th seed Diana Shnaider to reach round three, where she was joined by lucky loser Sierra, who stopped the run of local star Katie Boulter.
Fucsovics could make it six Roehampton competitors into the third round when he resumes his second round match against Gael Monfils on Friday, with scores locked at two-sets-all.
“There's just something about Roehampton... it's where you grind,” Fourlis said. “It's where you get yourself through those three matches to have the privilege to be able to play on site, to be able to walk into the doors and be like, 'yep, I qualified'.
"The year I actually qualified [in 2022], my younger sister came overseas and came to watch me play that year. I forgot to tell her that qualies isn't at Wimbledon (laughter).
“We rocked up to Roehampton and I was like, 'Oh Chrissy, welcome to the cricket field, this is where we play'. And I was like: 'My goal this week is to qualify, to be able to take her on site [to the All England Club].
“[It was special] to be able to win three qualies matches and be like, ‘OK, we're leaving the cricket field now – we're onto the big stage."
Qualifiers may be having their moment at Wimbledon, but there are some lead-in tournament winners remaining who thrive on that big stage.
Elise Mertens, ‘s-Hertogenbosch champion, is a consistent Grand Slam force while Taylor Fritz – the only player to win two tune-up events – has reached two Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Carlos Alcaraz, the Queen’s champion, is the most accomplished of all of them and this fortnight targets his third consecutive Wimbledon title.
Listen to the latest episode of The Tennis with Brie, Matt and our panel of experts. New episode released each Thursday, with daily episodes throughout the Australian Open main draw. Subscribe today and take The Tennis with you wherever you go!