Venus, Murray handed Wimbledon wild cards

Former champions Venus Williams and Andy Murray were named in Wimbledon’s initial list of wildcards on Wednesday for this month’s grasscourt Grand Slam.

American Williams, who will turn 41 on Thursday, has won five out of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon but has slipped to 103rd in the women’s world rankings.

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She has not made it past the opening round at any tournament since reaching the second round of the Australian Open in February.

Britain’s Murray won Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016 but is currently ranked 124th having endured a spate of injuries in the past few years.