A player can win a Grand Slam after three qualifying matches and seven more in the main draw—but only one singles champion in the Open Era has completed that route. Emma Raducanu did it at the 2021 US Open, turning a place in the qualifying draw into one of the most remarkable title runs in modern tennis.
How many Grand Slam champions have come through qualifying?
In Grand Slam singles, the answer is one in the Open Era: Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open. She became the first qualifier, male or female, to win a major since the Open Era began in 1968.
That answer is specifically about singles players who won a major after earning their main-draw place through qualifying. A wildcard, a direct entrant and a lucky loser are different things. A lucky loser also played qualifying, but lost in the final round and entered the main draw only after another player withdrew. Raducanu won her qualifying matches and secured her place outright.
| Milestone | Raducanu’s 2021 US Open |
|---|---|
| Qualifying matches won | 3 |
| Main-draw matches won | 7 |
| Total matches won | 10 |
| Sets dropped | 0 |
| Final opponent | Leylah Fernandez |
Raducanu’s path from qualifying to the title
Raducanu was 18 and ranked 150th in the world when she arrived in New York. To reach the main draw, she had to win three qualifying matches. She then won seven more, beating Leylah Fernandez 6–4, 6–3 in the final. Her opponents in the main draw included Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals and Maria Sakkari in the semifinals.
The remarkable part was not just the number of wins. Raducanu won all ten matches without dropping a set. That meant she handled the qualifying rounds, the best-of-three-set women’s main draw and the growing pressure of a late-tournament run without giving an opponent a set.
Her tennis was well suited to the challenge. She took the ball early, hit firmly through the court and looked to take time away from her opponents rather than settle into long, passive exchanges. Her return put pressure on serve, while her movement helped her defend when opponents tried to change the pace. Those qualities mattered against Fernandez, who was also playing fearless, attacking tennis. The final was a contest between two young players willing to go after their shots, not a cautious march to the finish.
Raducanu’s run also shows how physically and mentally demanding qualifying can be. A champion starting in the qualifying draw must win three extra matches, often before the biggest crowds and attention arrive. There is little time to relax: a poor day can end the tournament before the main draw even begins. Raducanu’s achievement was a feat of sustained performance, not a lucky break in one round.
What counts as qualifying?
At a Grand Slam, most players enter the singles main draw directly through their ranking. Others receive wildcards from the tournament. Qualifying is a separate competition for players who are not admitted directly and have not received a wildcard. In the usual format, a player must win three rounds to earn one of the available main-draw places.
That distinction helps explain why “came through qualifying” is a precise description. It does not mean a player simply had to win an early main-draw match. It means they first survived the qualifying tournament, then went on to win the entire Grand Slam draw. Raducanu’s ten-match streak crossed that boundary: three wins to get in, followed by seven wins for the championship.
Qualifying can also create a different rhythm from a direct main-draw entry. A qualifier has already played competitive matches and may be sharp from the start. But they have also spent more days on court and have had less time to rest. Whether the extra match practice is an advantage or a burden depends on the player, their recovery and how the tournament unfolds.
Other qualifiers who made deep Grand Slam runs
Winning the title is extraordinarily rare, but qualifiers have reached the later rounds before. John McEnroe made a striking Wimbledon run in 1977. On his Wimbledon debut, the 18-year-old came through qualifying and reached the men’s semifinals, where he lost to Jimmy Connors. His performance announced him as a major talent, even though the championship was still years away.
Alexandra Stevenson also reached the Wimbledon semifinals after qualifying, in 1999. She was 18 and ranked outside the top 100, and her run brought her into the spotlight as one of the tournament’s surprise stories. Those results give useful context: reaching a semifinal from qualifying is already a rare achievement. Raducanu went three rounds further and won the title.
These examples are also a reminder that a qualifier’s run is not always a one-off burst. McEnroe went on to become one of the game’s leading players. A surprise run can reflect a player arriving in form, but it can also be an early sign of a level that later becomes more familiar.
Why has the qualifying-to-champion route happened only once?
The straightforward answer is probability. Qualifiers face the same final seven matches as everyone else in the main draw, but they must first win three additional matches against players who are also trying to break through. Any one of those matches can end the run. By the time the champion is decided, the qualifier has played ten matches in total.
The physical test matters, especially at events where men’s singles matches are best of five sets. The attention and stakes rise sharply in the main draw, too. A qualifier who has played well for several days still needs to beat top-ranked opponents under a different level of scrutiny. Raducanu’s title required her to keep her aggressive game effective while managing the fatigue and expectation that came with each win.
There is also a historical caveat: the Open Era gives a consistent modern frame for discussing professional participation at the majors. Older tennis had different entry rules and structures, so claims about “the first ever” across all eras need care. Raducanu’s landmark is clear within the Open Era: she was the first qualifying player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the only Grand Slam singles champion to come through qualifying?
Emma Raducanu is the only Open Era Grand Slam singles champion to have won the title after coming through qualifying. She achieved it at the 2021 US Open.
How many matches did Raducanu win at the 2021 US Open?
She won ten: three qualifying matches and seven in the main draw. She did not drop a set in any of them.
Is a lucky loser the same as a qualifier?
No. A qualifier wins the final round of qualifying and earns a main-draw place. A lucky loser loses in qualifying but may enter the main draw if a player withdraws.
Have qualifiers reached Grand Slam semifinals?
Yes. John McEnroe reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1977 after qualifying, and Alexandra Stevenson did the same at Wimbledon in 1999. Raducanu remains the one who went on to win the championship.
Final Thoughts
Grand Slam qualifying is a tough tournament before the tournament, and reaching the main draw is a significant achievement on its own. Emma Raducanu took that route at the 2021 US Open and won all ten of her matches, making her the first Open Era qualifier to lift a major singles trophy. The result stands out not just because she started outside the main draw, but because she kept producing sharp, composed tennis all the way to the final.
