2026 US Open Wild Card Challenge
The summer hard-court swing will double as a proving ground for American players to earn their way into the 2026 US Open.
The US Open Wild Card Challenge will kick off the week of immediately following Wimbledon on July 13, with a singles main-draw wild card on offer for one American man and one U.S. woman. The women’s Challenge will end on Aug. 9, while the men’s Challenge will end on Aug. 16.
The men’s wild card will go to the American with the highest cumulative total of ATP singles ranking points earned from their best four results over five weeks. The men’s Challenge counts outdoor and indoor hard-court events at the M25-level and above around the world.
The women’s wild card will go to the American with the highest cumulative total of WTA singles ranking points earned from their best three results over four weeks. The women’s Challenge counts outdoor and indoor hard-court events at the W35-level and above.
Both main-draw and qualifying points earned from eligible tournaments count toward each player’s Challenge total. Results from the Cincinnati Open will not count for either the men or the women.
Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by Dustin Satloff/USTA.
Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the US Open are not eligible, including those who can enter with a protected ranking. 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 points standings. In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on the Monday following the end of the Challenge will earn the wild card.
The USTA utilizes this Challenge format to award singles main-draw wild cards into the US Open, French Open and Australian Open. Wild cards earned from the Challenges have been a springboard for many Americans over the years. Iva Jovic won the Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge in 2025 while ranked No. 120 and a year later is the youngest player in the WTA Top 20, at No. 17. Tommy Paul won two Challenges between 2017-19 en route to eventually reaching the Top 10.
Previous US Open Wild Card Challenge winners (and how they did at that year’s US Open) are below:
2025: Emilio Nava (1R); Caty McNally (2R)
2024: Learner Tien (1R); Amanda Anisimova (1R)
2023: Steve Johnson (1R); Kayla Day (1R)
2022: JJ Wolf (3R), Elizabeth Mandlik (2R)
2019: Ernesto Escobedo (1R), Kristie Ahn (4R)
2018: Bradley Klahn (1R), Asia Muhammad (1R)
2017: Tommy Paul (1R), Sofia Kenin (3R)
2016: Ernesto Escobedo (2R), Sofia Kenin (1R)
2015: Bjorn Fratangelo (1R), Samantha Crawford (1R)
2014: Wayne Odesnik (1R), Nicole Gibbs (3R)
2013: Bradley Klahn (2R), Shelby Rogers (1R)
2012: Steve Johnson (3R), Mallory Burdette (3R)
The 2026 US Open will be held from Aug. 23 - Sept. 13 in New York.
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