Britain's No.2 and No.3 ranked players Dan Evans and James Ward, and the 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis, have been awarded wild cards into the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club, 9-15 June. 

Ward was an Aegon Championships semi-finalist in 2011, beating current Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka before narrowly going down to Jo Wilfried Tsonga. The 27-year-old Londoner, currently ranked No.169, has also posted impressive results in the Davis Cup recently, defeating Dmitry Tursunov in GB’s victory over Russia, and Sam Querrey in overcoming the United States. 

Evans, No.130 in the rankings, qualified and reached the last 32 of the US Open last year and then did the same again before advancing to the semifinals of the Zagreb ATP event in February of this year. He has also enjoyed Davis Cup success, teaming with Ward to help Britain past Russia last year.

As well as his run to the Australian Open final, former World No.8 Baghdatis has had success on grass in the past, beating Wimbledon champions Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt in reaching the semifinals in 2006. 

Evans, Ward and Baghdatis join the current Aegon and Wimbledon champion Murray, World No.6 Tomas Berdych, 2011 runner-up Jo Wilfried Tsonga, World No.12 Grigor Dimitrov and four-time winner Hewitt in the field.

“Marcos, Dan and James are all excellent additions to the Aegon Championships line-up,” said Tournament Director, Ross Hutchins. “Marcos is still one of the most popular players with tennis fans, and although his ranking has suffered because of injury in recent years, he remains capable of beating the best players in the world. Dan and James have both had good results at The Queen’s Club in recent years and we look forward to welcoming them in June.”

Leon Smith, the Great Britain Davis Cup captain, said, “Dan is a very good grass court player and is capable of beating much higher ranked players on this surface. He is quick, has good hand skills and is confident at the net. All good attributes for grass court tennis. He returns to the Aegon Championships having reached the 3rd round last year. Since then he had a terrific run at the US Open and his first ATP Tour semi finals at the Zagreb Open in February which served as another reminder of his ability at Tour level. 

“James has good grass court experience and has previously reached the semi finals of the Aegon Championships. He also played a pivotal role in Great Britain's Davis Cup run to the World Group 1/4 finals this year including a brilliant 5 set victory against Sam Querrey in the tie against the USA.”

David Macmillan, Chief Marketing Officer of Aegon UK, added: “It’s great to see a popular Grand Slam runner-up and two of Britain’s best players joining the Aegon Championships field. With Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and so many more big names already confirmed it promises to be a wonderful week of tennis at The Queen’s Club.” 

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On finals day, the Aegon Championships will stage a mixed doubles match involving Murray and Hutchins as part of Rally For Bally. Mixed doubles matches will also take place on 15th June at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is the official charity of the Aegon Championships, and the proceeds will be split between the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, donate now.  

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