A wildcard usually gives a player a place in a Grand Slam draw they have not earned through their ranking. Turning that invitation into the trophy is another matter entirely. In singles, just two names stand out: Goran Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon in 2001, and Kim Clijsters, who captured the US Open in 2009.
Both runs became famous for different reasons. Ivanisevic’s was a long-awaited breakthrough at the end of years of near misses. Clijsters’s was a remarkable comeback after retirement and motherhood. Their stories also show what a wildcard does—and what it does not do.
Grand Slam singles champions who entered as wildcards
| Player | Grand Slam | Year | What made the win remarkable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goran Ivanisevic | Wimbledon | 2001 | Ranked No. 125, he won after reaching the final three times before. |
| Kim Clijsters | US Open | 2009 | She returned from retirement and won the title as a wildcard. |
This list refers to singles champions. Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles are separate events, with their own draws and wildcard entries; they are not included here.
Goran Ivanisevic: Wimbledon, 2001
Ivanisevic’s Wimbledon victory was the payoff to a decade of frustration on grass. The Croatian left-hander had reached the final in 1992, 1994 and 1998, but each time the title went to someone else. By 2001, injuries and a slide in the rankings had left him at No. 125. He needed a wildcard to get into the main draw.
That invitation became one of Wimbledon’s most memorable runs. Ivanisevic beat a strong group of opponents, including Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Tim Henman, before meeting Patrick Rafter in the final. The match was tense and closely contested, with Ivanisevic finally winning 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7.
The result mattered beyond the drama of the final. Ivanisevic became the first wildcard to win a Grand Slam singles title and, at the time, the lowest-ranked man to win Wimbledon. The victory also completed a story that had seemed to narrow with every lost final: a player who had come close repeatedly finally lifted the trophy.
His serve was central to the run. On grass, his left-handed delivery could pull opponents wide or jam them on the body, and his aggressive first-strike game made it hard for even elite returners to settle into rallies. The wildcard put him in the draw; the serve, nerve and experience carried him through it.
Kim Clijsters: US Open, 2009
Clijsters had stepped away from professional tennis in 2007. When she returned in 2009, after having a daughter, she did not have the ranking needed to enter the US Open directly. A wildcard gave her a place in the main draw—and she made the most of it.
Her path to the title included wins over several high-ranked opponents. She beat Venus Williams in the fourth round and world No. 1 Dinara Safina in the next round. In the semifinal, she faced Serena Williams in a match that ended in controversy: after a foot-fault call and a heated exchange with a line judge, Serena received a penalty point on match point, ending the match in Clijsters’s favour.
Clijsters then beat Caroline Wozniacki 7–5, 6–3 in the final. The win made her the first mother to win a Grand Slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980. It was also a striking return for a player who had been away from the tour for more than two years.
Her game was well suited to the pressure of a major run. Clijsters could defend with speed, absorb pace and turn a rally around with a sudden change of direction. Against powerful hitters, that combination let her stay in points without surrendering the chance to attack. The wildcard opened the door; her movement and composure helped her walk through it.
What a wildcard means—and what it doesn’t
A wildcard is an invitation into a tournament’s main draw. Grand Slam organizers award them under their own entry rules, often to promising local players, popular returning champions or competitors whose rankings do not secure a place in the draw. Receiving one does not give a player a seed, an easier draw or a special advantage once matches begin.
It is also different from qualifying. A qualifier earns a main-draw place by winning matches in a qualifying tournament. A wildcard is invited directly into the draw. And neither should be confused with a lucky loser, who loses in qualifying but enters the main draw if another player withdraws.
That distinction matters when discussing famous runs. For example, Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open after coming through qualifying, not as a wildcard. Her achievement was extraordinary, but it belongs to a different category from Ivanisevic’s and Clijsters’s.
Why are wildcard champions so rare?
Most wildcard recipients start with a disadvantage: their ranking did not guarantee entry, and their invitation does not shield them from facing top players in the early rounds. A Grand Slam requires seven match wins, often against opponents who are better ranked and more experienced at that level. One outstanding match is not enough; a champion has to sustain that level across two demanding weeks.
Ivanisevic and Clijsters had unusual advantages that a wildcard alone could not supply. Ivanisevic brought three previous Wimbledon final appearances and a serve built for grass. Clijsters was already a former world No. 1 and major champion before her break from the sport. Their invitations were the route into the tournament, not a shortcut to the title.
That is why “wildcard champion” can be a little misleading if it suggests an unknown player appearing from nowhere. Both champions had elite-level experience. What made their victories special was the gap between their circumstances at the time—Ivanisevic’s low ranking and Clijsters’s return from retirement—and the standard they produced when the tournament began.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first wildcard to win a Grand Slam singles title?
Goran Ivanisevic was the first, winning Wimbledon in 2001. He entered as a wildcard while ranked No. 125.
How many Grand Slam singles champions have won as wildcards?
The two celebrated singles examples are Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001 and Kim Clijsters at the US Open in 2009. This refers to singles, not doubles or mixed doubles.
Did Emma Raducanu win the US Open as a wildcard?
No. Raducanu won the 2021 US Open after coming through qualifying. A qualifier earns a place by winning qualifying matches; a wildcard receives a direct invitation to the main draw.
Does a wildcard give a player an easier draw?
No. A wildcard provides entry to the main draw, but it does not guarantee a seed or protect the player from meeting a top-ranked opponent early.
Final Thoughts
Ivanisevic and Clijsters remain the standout examples of wildcard players becoming Grand Slam singles champions. One finally conquered the tournament where he had lost three finals; the other turned a comeback into a major title. Their wins show that a wildcard can create an opportunity, but only exceptional tennis can turn it into a championship.
