ANDY Murray is one of 15 home-based singles participants at the Wimbledon championships this year, the kind of roll call not seen since ten years ago, and the days when wild cards seemed to be dispensed via a much-derided LTA scattergun.
This time around, though, no fewer than seven of these brave men and women are direct acceptances, players whose selection is due to their place in the world rankings. And one booked their placy by battling through qualifying. But who are these people and who are they playing?
Could this be the year when they are not all packing their bags again after the first round? Leaving out the man from Dunblane, here is Herald Sport's guide to this unlikely British resurgence.
THE MEN
JAMES WARD. The 29-year-old Londoner, son of a Hackney cab driver, was reliant on a wild card and has been handed Mission Impossible against Novak Djokovic, first up on Centre Court today.
Read more: Wary of Ward but Wimbledon champ Djokovic has will to keep winning
The Davis Cup hero lost his coach Darren Tandy to cancer last year, and his ranking has dropped to World No 177 but made it to the third round last year. “It’s good in some ways, it’s s*** in others, but it’s going to be a great day, something you have to make the most of and enjoy," said Ward, an Arsenal fan who is friends with Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. "I’m sure I will be pretty revved up."
LIAM BROADY. The 22-year-old from Stockport was a talented junior player who won the boys doubles at SW19 in 2010, and was a losing finalist in the singles.
His return to the LTA fold after his sister Naomi saw her funding pulled in a row over off court behaviour caused family heartache. "It’s a real David v Goliath, Leicester City winning the league situation," said Broady. "Maybe even less likely."
KYLE EDMUND. Born in Johannesburg but brought up in Beverley, Yorkshire, the 21-year-old qualifies by dint of his world ranking of 68.
Featured for Britain in the Davis Cup final in Ghent in November and takes on Adrian Mannarino of France first up on Court No 2 in a match which could go either way.
ALJAZ BEDENE. The 26-year-old World No 55 was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, but resides in Welwyn Garden City.
Long running wrangle over his availability for Britain's Davis Cup ties went against him and has tough opener tomorrow against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a semi-finalist here last year.
DAN EVANS. Brummie wild child and another Davis Cup hero is finally getting his act together.
The crafty 5ft 9in 26-year-old has taken some notable scalps in the slams but has never won a match at Wimbledon. Takes on Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany today.
MARCUS WILLIS. The story of the championships so far when this unorthodox 25-year-old, persuaded by his girlfriend not to quit the sport for a life in coaching, sneaked into qualifying and won through to Wimbledon for the first time.
Faces Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis and could meet Roger Federer next up. "I haven't really thought about that, although obviously he is right next to me in the draw," said Willis. "Actually, I have thought about it, it would be amazing."
BRYDAN KLEIN. Aussie-born 26-year-old wild card who has played under the Union Jack since 2013. Tough ask first up against experienced Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
ALEX WARD. The 26-year-old from Nottingham enters the competition at his career high singles ranking of 242. Has been hitting with Andy Murray at Aorangi this week but a tough task awaits today against No 11 seed David Goffin.
THE WOMEN
JOHANNA KONTA. Born in Sydney, the 25-year-old became the first British female player to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal in 32 years at the Australian Open earlier this year.
In good form at Eastbourne last week, but not the easiest opener, against Puerto Rico's Monica Puig.
HEATHER WATSON. The Channel Islander won in Monterrey earlier in the year but not in great grassourt form.
Takes on Annika Beck of Germany ahead of a possible third round reunion with Serena Williams, whom she nearly defeated here last year.
LAURA ROBSON. The only British woman in action today, the Melbourne-born player won the junior girls here back in 2008 and took Olympic silver with Andy Murray.
Not long back in the sport after huge wrist issues, the wild card takes on Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber on Court No 1.
NAOMI BROADY. Sister of Liam, the willowy World No 84 has developed away from the LTA after a row which saw her funding witheld for being pictured as a teenager in a nightclub.
Won a first round matcher here in 2014 but has a tough ask against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.
TARA MOORE. The Hong Kong-born wild card faces Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium, a former French Open quarter finalist, in the first round.
KATIE SWAN. The 16-year-old Bristolian, who was included by Judy Murray in her Fed Cup team, is the next big thing in British tennis. Has practised in Wichita, Kansas, since 2013, and takes on Hungary's Timea Babos in the first round.
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