Wimbledon 2013: Wildcard Tara Moore defends failing Brits in 'rant' on Twitter One of Britain's few remaining Wimbledon hopefuls, wildcard Tara Moore, has lashed out at critics over questions surrounding the pocketing of tens-of-thousands of pounds for poor performances. Twenty-year-old debutante Moore, leapt to the defence of fellow women tennis players on Twitter today in a self-confessed 'rant' before taking to Court 17 for her first match against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. She was responding to a growing swell of debate over the earnings made by British wildcards, especially in the wake of their lacklustre performance in the first round. Elena Baltacha, who was knocked out of the tournament before play had even started on the show courts yesterday, is thought to have sent her All England career earnings through the £150,000 barrier this week. This year she was one of seven Britons to get wildcards to the singles tournaments. The performance of wildcards has caused much criticism on social media, with some users questioning why players should pocket money for a poor performance - first-round losers get £23,500 at Wimbledon. One user, writing as OvalBallBrain, commented several times on Baltacha and Anne Keothavong's performances, asking if there were players more "deserving" of a wildcard entry. Between Baltacha and Keothavong they won 9 games today. Time to move on LTA," one said, and later added: "Well you saw two BRITISH PLAYERS win a total of 9 games today. Worth your money? Doubt it. But Moore hit back on her own Twitter site, saying: "People that are tweeting @ElenaBaltacha and @annekeothavong abuse don't see what they and all tennis players go through day in day out..." Try one week in our shoes and you'd see the effort we put into training and not just for the Wimbledon two weeks you guys seem to see... #rantover. But thanks to those people who actually appreciate tennis #Wimbledon #BritishTennis. Keothavong and Baltacha stayed silent on the issue, the former not commenting, and Baltacha only adding a smiley face to a tweet from another user, instructing the critic to "stick to rugby mate." Britain's hopes now rest on Laura Robson who plays today, as well as Moore. Other than Andy Murray's performance, yesterday proved a dismal opening day for the Britons, as six fell at the first hurdle, with Baltacha, Keothavong, Johanna Konta, Samantha Murray, James Ward and Kyle Edmund all exiting the competition. Heather Watson was beaten today by American Madison Keys. The criticism of wildcards at Wimbledon first rose three years ago, when the Lawn Tennis Association came in for severe condemnation after Murray was the only member of Britain's eight-strong crop to make it through to the last 64.