The US Open Wild Card Challenge is set to return this summer for the first time since 2019. Instituted in 2012, the Challenge affords players the opportunity to earn their way into the US Open by utilizing the cumulative results at select, summer hard-court pro tournaments to award one American man and one American woman a main-draw wild card.
This year's men's Challenge begins the week of July 11, while the women's Challenge commences a week later on July 18. A player's best three events will count towards the Challenge standings, and the American who accumulates the most ATP or WTA singles ranking points in their respective windows will be awarded the wild card at each Challenge's conclusion.
Both the men’s and women’s Challenges will include results from any professional hard-court event at ITF World Tennis Tour $25,000 level and above, up through ATP and WTA tour events. Both main draw and qualifying points earned count toward each player’s Challenge total.
Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the US Open are not eligible, nor are players ranked in the ATP or WTA Top 50 when the Challenges begin.
Should the player with the highest number of Challenge points earn direct entry into the US Open, the wild card will go to the next eligible American in the Challenge standings. In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on Aug. 15 will earn the wild card.
Previous US Open Wild Card Challenge winners (and how they did at that year’s US Open) are below. The recently-retired Kristie Ahn (pictured) made history in 2019 as the first Challenge-winner to reach the second week.
Previous US Open Wild Card Challenge Winners
2019: Ernesto Escobedo (R1), Kristie Ahn (R4)
2018: Bradley Klahn (R1), Asia Muhammad (R1)
2017: Tommy Paul (R1), Sofia Kenin (R3)
2016: Ernesto Escobedo (R2), Sofia Kenin (R1)
2015: Bjorn Fratangelo (R1), Samantha Crawford (R1)
2014: Wayne Odesnik (R1), Nicole Gibbs (R3)
2013: Bradley Klahn (R2), Shelby Rogers (R1)
2012: Steve Johnson (R3), Mallory Burdette (R3)
Photo by Rhea Nall/USTA.
The 2022 US Open main draw begins Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 11.
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