Wimbledon wants to put more emphasis on consistent results

Wimbledon will pick its wildcards from a list of eight men and eight women chosen by British tennis' governing body the LTA based on world rankings.

The shortlisted players who miss out will enter a qualifying competition for places in Wimbledon's main draw.

The LTA has made the changes to put more emphasis on consistent results as the basis for a coveted wildcard spot.

The wildcard play-off tournament was introduced three years ago by former LTA performance director David Felgate as a way of increasing competition among British players.

But the LTA now feels it needs to change tack if it is to promote players' development.

"We are confident of being able to put up the right names in the right order," Paul Hutchins, head of men's tennis at the LTA, told the BBC.

"It will be based on results over the year and I feel very happy with that."

I want to strengthen the mental toughness of our players Paul Hutchins, head of men's tennis at the LTA

"Wimbledon is just two weeks of the year and the players are playing over 12 months.

"So if any player is slacking, not at it 100% or not playing enough tournaments, then he would not get put up on the wildcard list of the top eight."

Hutchins also expressed his desire to see British players play more tournaments abroad.

"I want to strengthen the mental toughness of our players," he said.

"That means they have got to go and play in far-off places in difficult conditions, preferably on slow clay, where mentally it is very, very tough.

"We have just come back from a tour of South America where one of our players played 45 matches in seven weeks.

"It is these sort of mental toughness ideas that we want to try and bring in much more with our younger players."