Tatjana Maria says Queen’s should show more respect to its defending champions after she had to go through qualifying to reach the main draw.
The German, then aged 37, became the first women’s singles champion at the London club for 52 years when she beat eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in last year’s final as a qualifier.
Four lower-ranked British players were awarded wildcards for the tournament, while Maria had to win two qualifying matches on Sunday.
She will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the first round on Tuesday.
“It didn’t feel [different to last year]. It feels almost like a normal tournament because I had to start over again in qualifying,” Maria, an honorary life member at the club, told BBC Sport.
“Already what I did last year was amazing and to be a champion here, I thought I deserved a wildcard and to get a little bit of respect.”
In further comments to reporters, Maria added: “I did it last year. It was not five years ago.
“I was surprised when I got the message of [tournament director] Laura Robson saying all the wildcards would go to the British players, which I understand. But as a champion, it’s tough for me.
“It is something that should be normal. If you are champion of an event and you don’t get in the year after, I think automatically this should be considered.”
Maria, watched by her two daughters, beat four top-20 players en route to the title, becoming the oldest winner of a WTA 500 tournament.
She is ranked 52nd in the world – too low to earn direct entry for the 28-strong main draw but higher than each of the four British players awarded wildcards.
This year’s recipients were Katie Boulter (world number 73), Fran Jones (98), Harriet Dart (160), and Mika Stojsavljevic (261).
A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said: “The LTA owns and invests in staging these events for the benefit of the British game as a whole – so fans can see world class international players from around the world, and support our British players, but also so British players are afforded the playing opportunities to progress their careers and climb the rankings.
“We have seen British success at these events, and breakthrough wins, so there is clear value in giving British players these development opportunities.”