Reigning champion Tatjana Maria shocked by Queen’s wildcard snub
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EN: Use 'the' before a noun when referring to a specific person or title, such as 'the reigning champion'.
He is the winner of the race.
EN: The Queen's Club is a prestigious private sporting club in London, famous for hosting grass court tennis tournaments before Wimbledon.
EN: Use 'at the age of' followed by a number to say when someone did something in their life.
He started playing tennis at the age of five.
EN: In professional tennis, winning a major title at 37 is considered a significant achievement, as most players retire in their early 30s.
EN: The negative form in the past tense uses 'did not' (or 'didn't') followed by the base form of the verb.
He did not go to the party yesterday.
EN: In professional tennis, a 'wildcard' is often given to popular players, young talents, or past champions to help them enter a tournament without meeting the usual ranking requirements. However, tournaments often prioritize players from their own country, as seen here with the Queen's Club favoring British players.
EN: The verb 'is' (linking verb) connects a subject to a description or definition. Use 'A is B' to explain what something means.
A library is a quiet place to read.
EN: In sports like tennis, a 'wildcard' is given to players who do not qualify through the normal ranking system. It is often used to help local players or popular former champions participate in a tournament.
EN: The structure 'be + surprised by' is used to describe a person's reaction to an event or news. 'Surprised' acts like an adjective here.
He was surprised by the gift.
EN: In professional tennis, tournament organizers usually have the right to give 'wildcards' to whoever they choose, often favoring local players to boost home-crowd interest, even if it seems unfair to defending champions.
EN: The verb 'give' follows the pattern: give + something + to + someone. This shows who receives the item.
I gave the book to my friend.
EN: In tennis, a 'wildcard' is often given by tournament organizers to local players or popular stars who didn't qualify by rank. This helps promote the sport in the host country, which is why the Queen's Club (a famous club in London) favored British players.
EN: The phrase 'had to' is the past tense of 'have to', used to express a necessity or obligation that existed in the past.
I had to finish my homework before I could go out.
EN: In professional tennis, a 'main draw' is the primary stage of a tournament where the top-ranked players compete. Players who don't have a high enough ranking or a 'wildcard' (special invitation) must play in 'qualifying matches' to earn a spot.
EN: The 'It is + adjective + for someone + to do something' pattern is used to express an opinion about an action. 'It' is a placeholder for the real action (to accept this).
It is easy for him to learn English.
EN: In professional tennis, wildcards are often given to local players from the host country to boost ticket sales and local interest. However, it is a tradition in many tournaments to honor the defending champion, regardless of their nationality, which is why Maria felt disrespected.
EN: The verb 'tell' is used to give information to someone. In the past tense, it becomes 'told'. The pattern is: tell + someone + about + something.
He told me about his new job.
EN: In professional sports, athletes often speak to reporters in a 'press conference' or 'mixed zone' after matches to share their thoughts on the game or tournament decisions.
EN: The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. We often add '-ed' to regular verbs like 'hoped', while 'won' is the irregular past form of 'win'.
I visited Germany last year.
EN: In professional tennis, a 'wildcard' is often given to local players or popular stars to boost ticket sales, but it is also common courtesy to offer one to the defending champion if their ranking has dropped.
EN: The modal verb 'have to' is used to express necessity or a strong obligation. It shows that something is required by rules or common sense.
You have to wear a seatbelt in the car.
EN: In professional tennis, it is a common tradition to grant the defending champion a 'wildcard' or automatic entry if their ranking has dropped, as a sign of respect for their previous achievement. Maria is expressing that this tradition was not followed here.
EN: The verb 'believes' is followed by a 'that' clause (though 'that' is often omitted) which acts as the object of the sentence to express an opinion.
He believes the team will win.
EN: In professional tennis, a 'wildcard' is often given to local players to boost home interest, but it is also a common courtesy to offer one to the defending champion if their ranking has dropped. Maria's comment highlights a tension between national interest and sporting tradition.
EN: The sentence uses 'that' to introduce a clause that explains what the 'good news' is. It acts like a bridge connecting the subject to the specific information.
The truth is that I like tennis.
EN: In tennis, players who don't receive a 'wildcard' or have a high enough ranking must play in 'qualifying matches' to enter the main tournament. This sentence highlights Maria's resilience in winning those extra matches.
EN: Use 'and' to connect two actions done by the same person. Both verbs should be in the same tense (in this case, past tense: 'won' and 'entered').
He opened the door and walked inside.
EN: In tennis, the 'main draw' refers to the primary stage of a tournament where the top-ranked players compete. Players who don't have a high enough ranking or a wildcard must play in 'qualifying matches' to enter the main draw.
EN: Use 'was' to describe a state or situation in the past for singular subjects (I, he, she, it, or singular nouns).
The weather was very hot yesterday.
EN: In sports context, a 'victory' is often described as 'special' when it involves a significant comeback, a long-awaited return (like women's tennis returning to Queen's Club after 52 years), or personal milestones.
EN: Use 'for the first time' to describe something that has never happened before until now, or hasn't happened for a long period.
I saw snow for the first time in my life.
EN: Queen's Club in London is a famous tennis venue. For many years, it only hosted men's professional tournaments. The return of women's tennis is a significant event for gender equality in the sport.
EN: The verb 'watch' can be followed by an object and then the base form of another verb (without 'to') to describe seeing the entire action from start to finish.
I watched the birds fly away.
EN: In professional tennis, family members often travel with players. Seeing children support their parents on the court is a heartwarming aspect of the sport, especially at prestigious venues like the Queen's Club.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
An opportunity given to a player or team to participate in a competition despite not having qualified through the normal way.
The primary stage of a tournament where the top-seeded and qualified players compete.
To compete in a tournament to keep the championship won in the previous year.