For the four nations which host a grand slam event – the UK, the USA, France and Australia – handing wild cards to promising home players can pay dividends if some of those players advance into the main draw.

Indeed, qualifying draws can sometimes showcase the talent of a future star to full effect. 

At other times, a local player’s overwhelming desire to compete in a tournament comfortably outweighs their actual ability.

This year at Wimbledon, three British competitors successfully qualified for the ongoing men's singles event.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a closer look at their journeys, as the highlight of the grass court calendar gets underway.