Wimbledon star pulls out after draw and takes home £40k without even playing

Wimbledon have confirmed that Mattia Bellucci has withdrawn from the men's draw and been replaced by a lucky loser. It means Bellucci takes home 50 per cent of the first-round prize money despite not even taking to the court. The Italian, who reached the third round in 2025, was due to face American Zachary Svajda in the second match on Court 11 on Tuesday. But almost 48 hours before that clash, Bellucci has become the first player to pull out after the draw and will go home having banked £40,000.

Players who compete in the first round earn £80,000 and those who pull out still receive 50 per cent of that amount. World No.65 Bellucci's withdrawal means Svajda will take on Pablo Llamas Ruiz of Spain instead. Llamas Ruiz is ranked 119th and had lost in four sets to Tristan Boyer, another American, in the final round of qualifying at Roehampton.

It will be the first time both Svajda and Llamas Ruiz have played in the main draw at the All England Club having only ever competed in Wimbledon qualifying before this.

Svajda has risen to world No. 62 after making his debut at the French Open last month, reaching the fourth round after upset wins against Alexei Popyrin, Adam Walton and 25th seed Francisco Cerundolo.

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