Main Draw Wild Cards into 2022 US Open to be Awarded to Top-Performing

American Man and Woman During Runs of Summer Hard-Court Events

From the USTA – Orlando, Fla., June 24, 2022 – The US Open Wild Card Challenge, which utilizes hard-court pro tournaments to award an American man and woman a main draw wild card into the US Open, will kick off the week of July 11 for the men and July 18 for the women, with the men’s window lasting five weeks and the women’s window lasting four. It’s the first time since 2019 that the USTA is using the Challenge format to award wild cards into the US Open.  

Both wild cards will go to the American with the highest cumulative total of ATP or WTA singles ranking points earned from their best three results during their respective windows. Both the men’s and women’s Challenges will include results from any professional hard-court event at the 25 level and above around the world. 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 points standings. In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on August 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:

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 2022 US Open main draw will be held August 29 to September 11.