US Open Wild Card Challenge Returns for American Men and Women
Jul 14, 2026
The road to the 2026 US Open main draw will run through the summer hard-court circuit for American players chasing a wild card into the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The USTA announced that the US Open Wild Card Challenge will return this week for both men and women, with one American man and one American woman earning a singles main draw wild card into the 2026 US Open.
The women’s Challenge will run through August 9, while the men’s Challenge will continue through August 16.
Above: 2024 winner Learner Tien. Photo credit: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The men’s wild card will be awarded to the American player with the highest cumulative total of ATP singles ranking points earned from his best four results over five weeks. The men’s Challenge includes 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 player with the highest cumulative total of WTA singles ranking points earned from her best three results over four weeks. The women’s Challenge includes outdoor and indoor hard-court events at the W35 level and above around the world.
Both main draw and qualifying points from eligible tournaments will count toward each player’s Challenge total. Results from the Cincinnati Open will not count for either the men or the women.
Above: Peyton Stearns. Photo credit: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Players who otherwise earn direct entry into the US Open are not eligible for the wild card, including players who can enter with a protected ranking. If the player with the highest number of Challenge points earns direct entry, the wild card will go to the next eligible American in the standings.
In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or WTA singles ranking on the Monday following the end of the Challenge will receive the wild card.
The USTA uses the Challenge format to award singles main draw wild cards into the US Open, French Open and Australian Open. Over the years, the pathway has helped launch several American players toward bigger results on the pro tour.
Above: Tristan Boyer. Photo credit: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Iva Jovic won the Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge in 2025 while ranked No. 120 and, one year later, is the youngest player ranked in the WTA Top 20 at No. 17. Tommy Paul won two Challenges between 2017 and 2019 before eventually reaching the ATP Top 10.
Recent US Open Wild Card Challenge winners include Emilio Nava and Caty McNally in 2025, Learner Tien and Amanda Anisimova in 2024, and Steve Johnson and Kayla Day in 2023.
Previous US Open Wild Card Challenge winners and their results at that year’s US Open:
- 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 Wild Card Challenge gives American players another opportunity to use the summer hard-court swing as a springboard into New York.
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Source: USTA. Photo credit (top photo of Caty McNally): Peter Menzel, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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