U.S. players to compete for French Open wild card

For the last five years, American players have had the chance to earn a wild card into the French Open by competing on the USTA Pro Circuit. This year, the Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge returns, but with a change on the men's side.

For the men, USTA Player Development will now consider all American results worldwide for the wild card, instead of results only compiled in USTA Pro Circuit tournaments. In 2017, both USTA Pro Circuit and international ATP World Tour and Challenger tournaments on any professional outdoor clay surface (Har-Tru or red) with prize money of $50,000 and above will be factored into the challenge standings. 

The women’s wild card challenge remains the same as in past years, factoring in only points earned at a series of USTA Pro Circuit clay-court events.

The 2017 Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge will be held over the next four weeks, kicking off the week of April 10 and concluding the week of May 1.

In the challenge, the American man and American woman who earn the most ATP World Tour and WTA ranking points from their best two results during the four-week time period will earn main-draw wild cards into the French Open. The challenge is open only to Americans who did not earn direct entry into the French Open. In case of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on Monday, May 8, will be awarded the wild card.

The USTA and the French Tennis Federation have a reciprocal agreement in which wild cards into the 2017 French Open and US Open are exchanged.

This year's men's challenge will consist of the following events: 

• Week of April 10: Houston ATP 250, Marrakech ATP 250, San Luis Potosi $50,000, Barletta €43,000
• Week of April 17: Monte Carlo Masters ATP 1000, Taipei $125,000, Qingdao $125,000, Sarasota, Fla. $100,000
• Week of April 24: Barcelona ATP 500, Budapest ATP 250, Anning $150,000, Tallahassee $75,000, Francavilla €43,000
• Week of May 1: Munich ATP 250, Estoril ATP 250, Istanbul ATP 250, Savannah, Ga. $75,000, Ostrava €64,000, Gimcheon $50,000

The women's challenge will include the following USTA Pro Circuit tournaments:

• Week of April 10: Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. $80,000 
• Week of April 17: Dothan, Ala. $60,000
• Week of April 24: Charlottesville, Va. $60,000
• Week of May 1: Charleston, S.C. $60,000 

All USTA Pro Circuit tournaments will be streamed live here.

This is the sixth consecutive year the USTA has used a wild-card challenge format to award French Open wild cards to American players. The USTA first used the challenge for its 2012 French Open wild cards, won by Melanie Oudin and Brian Baker, who each advanced to the second round at that year’s French Open and subsequently broke into the Top 100. In 2013, Alex Kuznetsov and Shelby Rogers earned the wild cards, with Rogers winning her first-ever Grand Slam singles match at the French Open. 

In 2014, young American Taylor Townsend and veteran Robby Ginepri received the wild cards, with Townsend becoming a top storyline by reaching the third round in Paris. In 2015, rising stars Frances Tiafoe and Louisa Chirico secured the wild cards. Last year, Townsend (pictured above) and Bjorn Fratangelo earned the wild cards, with both players winning their first-round matches.

The 2017 French Open main draw will be held Sunday, May 28, to Sunday, June 11.