THORNBURY tennis star Emily Webley-Smith will return to Wimbledon for the first time in seven years after being handed a wildcard for the 2011 championships.

The British No7 joins Heather Watson, former Wimbledon junior champion Laura Robson, Naomi Broady and Katie O’Brien as those to be offered places in the main draw.

Webley-Smith, 26, reached the second round on her only previous appearance at SW19 in 2004, beating Frenchwoman Severine Beltrame in straight sets before losing to American No 31 seed Amy Frazier 2-6, 6-3, 6-8.

Her career has been hit by injuries and illnesses but she is arguably enjoying her best ever year at the moment, reaching a career high 241 in the WTA Singles Rankings recently.

She has since dropped six places but is 155th in the Race to the WTA Championships Singles Standings.

Almondsbury Tennis Club product Webley-Smith was knocked out in the first round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham on Monday, going down 6-4, 6-3 to No 14 seed Magdalena Rybarikova.

The Wimbledon draw will be announced on Friday, June 17 before the Championships begin on Monday, June 20.