A player ranked outside the world’s top 100 can still walk straight into the US Open main draw. That does not mean the entry rules have been bent: it usually means the player received a wildcard, one of a limited number of places the tournament can award at its discretion.
Here is how US Open wildcards work, who awards them, and how they differ from qualifying places and ranking-based entry.
How many US Open wildcards are there?
The US Open singles draws have 128 places each for men and women. Under the standard Grand Slam allocation, each draw includes eight wildcards and 16 players who earn their places through qualifying. Most of the remaining places go to players accepted directly on the basis of their rankings.
| Singles entry route | Places in each draw | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Direct acceptance | Most of the draw | Entry is based primarily on a player’s ranking when the entry list is set. |
| Qualifying | 16 | Players earn a main-draw place by winning through the qualifying event. |
| Wildcard | 8 | The tournament selects players to enter without needing to qualify or meet the direct-entry ranking cutoff. |
The eight wildcards are part of the 128-player draw, not extra places added on top of it. Men’s and women’s singles have separate allocations. Doubles and mixed doubles have their own entry procedures, so the singles numbers should not be applied to those events.
Who chooses the wildcards?
The USTA, the US Open’s governing organization, selects the tournament’s wildcards. There is no single ranking threshold a player must meet, and a wildcard is not an automatic reward for a particular result. The USTA can weigh factors such as recent form, past achievements, a player’s potential, and a return from injury or an extended absence.
Several places may also be connected to reciprocal arrangements with other tennis organizations. These agreements can allow a player from another country to receive a US Open wildcard, while a US player may be considered for a place at a partner tournament. The details and recipients can vary from year to year; these arrangements do not mean every country or player is guaranteed a spot.
Some wildcard announcements attract attention because the recipient has a low ranking—or no current ranking at all. Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters, returning from retirement, received a US Open wildcard in 2009 and went on to win the title. Her run showed what a wildcard can do: it provides access to the draw, but the player still has to win every match on court.
Do wildcards have to be American?
No. The US Open is held in the United States, and USTA selections often provide opportunities to American players, but a wildcard is not restricted to US citizens. International players can receive one as well, including through reciprocal arrangements or a discretionary selection.
There is no guarantee that a promising junior, college champion, returning star, or local favorite will receive a place. Those achievements may help make a player a candidate, but the USTA makes the final selection. The number of available singles wildcards is limited, so choosing one player means leaving another out.
How a wildcard differs from other entry routes
Wildcard versus qualifying
A main-draw wildcard gives a player direct entry into the 128-player event. A qualifying wildcard only lets a player enter the qualifying tournament. The player still has to win the required matches to claim one of the 16 qualifying places in the main draw.
That distinction matters when reading an announcement. A player described as receiving a “US Open wildcard” may have been given entry to qualifying rather than to the main event. Check which draw the announcement refers to.
Wildcard versus direct acceptance
Direct acceptance is normally determined by ranking and the entry deadline. If a player’s ranking is high enough for the available direct-entry places, they do not need a wildcard. If it is not, a wildcard is one possible route, alongside qualifying.
A wildcard does not change the player’s ranking or guarantee a seed. Seeding is determined separately under the tournament’s seeding rules. A wildcard recipient with a ranking high enough to qualify for a seed can be seeded; most wildcard recipients are not.
Wildcard versus protected ranking
A protected ranking is a separate entry mechanism for eligible players who have been unable to compete because of a qualifying injury or medical condition. It can let a player enter tournaments using a ranking calculated under the applicable rules. It is not a wildcard, and it does not use one of the USTA’s discretionary places.
In short, a wildcard is an invitation from the tournament. A protected ranking is an entry option governed by specific eligibility rules.
What happens after a player receives one?
A wildcard gets its recipient into the relevant draw; it does not come with a special match format, ranking bonus, or easier route through the tournament. Once play begins, the player competes under the same match rules as everyone else. Ranking points depend on results, not on how the player entered.
If a player withdraws, the resulting vacancy is handled under the event’s entry procedures. The original wildcard is not a transferable ticket that another player can simply claim. The tournament determines how to fill the place, taking account of the timing and the applicable rules.
Wildcards are generally announced in the lead-up to the tournament, though timing can vary. A player who has not received one can still pursue a qualifying place if eligible, or may enter the main draw as an alternate if a space opens and they are next in line under the entry procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a wildcard player win the US Open?
Yes. A wildcard player can win the tournament by winning the same matches as any other entrant. Kim Clijsters did exactly that in 2009 after receiving a wildcard during her comeback.
Does a wildcard guarantee a place in the main draw?
Only if it is specifically a main-draw wildcard. A wildcard for qualifying grants entry to the qualifying event, and the player must still win through to the main draw.
Can a low-ranked or unranked player get a US Open wildcard?
Yes. The point of a wildcard is to allow the tournament to select a player who might not gain direct entry through ranking. There is no requirement that recipients meet the normal direct-entry cutoff.
Are wildcards available only to American players?
No. The USTA may select international players, including through reciprocal arrangements. The recipients and arrangements can change from year to year.
Final Thoughts
A US Open wildcard is a limited discretionary entry place, not a shortcut through the competition. In singles, eight are available in each main draw, alongside direct acceptances and places earned through qualifying. The key detail is whether the invitation is for the main draw or qualifying: one puts a player straight into the tournament, while the other gives them a chance to earn their way in.
