Serena in, U.S. leads all nations in initial 2022 US Open singles entry lists

Williams last played the US Open in 2020, where she reached the semifinals before losing to eventual runner-up Victoria Azarenka; she was forced to miss last year's tournament due to an injury sustained at Wimbledon—part of a nearly 12-month layoff that ended last month on grass. 

Due to her inactivity, Williams is currently unranked on the WTA computer, but is entered in New York with a special ranking of No. 16. She's one of two American women, and six in all, using special rankings for entry; the other is Taylor Townsend, who also last played at the US Open in 2020. The 26-year-old left-hander gave birth to a son, Adyn, last March, and returned to competitive tennis this April.

World No. 7 Jessica Pegula and world No. 8 Danielle Collins lead the U.S. women in the field, and No. 98 Lauren Davis sits one ahead of the last direct acceptance, No. 99 Greet Minnen of Belgium.

The American men are led by a pair of Top 20 players in No. 13 Taylor Fritz and No. 17 Reilly Opelka, part of eight in the Top 50 in all. Three more Americans are among the first four alternates. Fritz will arrive in New York fresh off of his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon, where eight U.S. men made Round 3 and four were in the last 16. Eight U.S. men last made Round 3 of a major at the 1996 US Open.

After reaching Round 4 in New York last year as a wild card, 21-year-old American Jenson Brooksby gets direct entry this year with his current ranking of No. 41. Brooksby was one of three Americans to reach the last 16 at the 2021 US Open, joining Opelka and Frances Tiafoe. 

The current cut-off in the men's field is No. 101, but three Americans are currently among the first four alternates: Stefan Kozlov, Jack Sock and J.J. Wolf will eye direct entry should any of the players currently accepted withdraw in the coming weeks.