Seven stars, limited wildcards: Serena and Venus Williams headlines major US Open dilemma
Tennis NewsMonday, 27 July 2026 at 18:30
Just four weeks remain until the start of the US Open, the fourth Grand Slam of the year and the biggest event left on the calendar, but several top names have been left outside the main draw for the final major of the North American swing.
Following the release of the entry list, there are still some spots to be determined in the coming days, when the tournament organizers announce the wild cards that will provide direct invitations into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is hoping for a return in New York — the same place where she retired back in 2022 — as she plans a comeback after her Wimbledon appearance. The American will be looking for an invitation to compete in the main draw, a scenario that seems almost guaranteed considering the enormous attention generated by her return to competition.
She is not the only former champion hoping to access the main draw through a wildcard, as her sister Venus Williams, 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, and 2016 men’s US Open champion Stan Wawrinka — as part of his retirement year — are among the top names hoping to receive an invitation and avoid playing qualifying.
1. Serena Williams hoping for another US Open opportunity
The name everyone wants to see back at Flushing Meadows, especially after a strong grass-court swing, where at 44 years old she showed she can still be competitive. The American only made one singles appearance — losing in the first round of Wimbledon against Maya Joint — but managed to take a player 25 years younger to three sets and keep the match competitive until the final moments.
However, the seven-time US Open champion has not had much luck after suffering an injury in the days following her return to singles. She was expected to play doubles with her sister Venus Williams, but they eventually withdrew due to Serena’s physical issues.
Now, the American will look to be part of both the singles and doubles draws at the US Open, and there has even been speculation about a potential mixed doubles appearance with Carlos Alcaraz.
Serena Williams retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open after reaching the fourth round. A few weeks ago she returned to singles competition at Wimbledon
2. Venus Williams
The two-time US Open champion is another living legend who could receive a wildcard from the US Open organizers. So far, the American has not had problems receiving invitations for the tournaments she has selected on her calendar, and as happened in 2022, 2023 and 2025, the older Williams sister hopes to return to New York and compete at the highest level.
At 46 years old, she has gone almost an entire year without a victory, already accumulating 11 consecutive defeats since her last win against Peyton Stearns one year ago in Washington. Her last victory in a Grand Slam main draw came at the 2021 Wimbledon main draw, where she defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round. Since then, she has suffered six consecutive losses at major level.
Venus Williams received a wildcard for the 2025 US Open. She was defeated by Karolina Muchova in a three-set match in the first round.
3. Stan Wawrinka looking for final US Open farewell
The 40-year-old is in the final year of his career and will look to complete appearances at all four Grand Slams of the season after receiving wild cards at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Back in 2016, he lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, making history with his third major title. That achievement will certainly be considered by tournament organizers when deciding whether to give the former world No. 3 an appropriate farewell.
Wawrinka, however, received a snub last year, missing the chance to participate at the US Open. This time, considering it could potentially be his final Grand Slam appearance, the organizers will likely reconsider giving him an invitation as he looks for one last opportunity to compete at Flushing Meadows before preparing for his retirement in the coming months at Swiss Open Basel.
Stan Wawrinka at 2025 Australian Open
4. Bianca Andreescu hoping for another US Open fairytale
The 2019 US Open champion produced one of the most surprising runs we have seen at a Grand Slam, when at just 19 years old and making her debut at the tournament, she claimed the title.
It was her fourth Grand Slam appearance, and she finished the tournament by defeating Serena Williams in the final in straight sets, securing her first-ever entry into the top five of the rankings.
Everything seemed to be shining for Andreescu at that time, but injuries have prevented her from finding stability on the Tour. Despite showing good levels of tennis at times and flashes of her talent, injuries have forced her to miss major events and caused her ranking to drop, with the Canadian currently sitting at No. 174 in the WTA rankings.
If she does not receive a wildcard, she will have to go through qualifying — something she has already done several times in recent years to compete at Grand Slam tournaments.
5. Zheng Qinwen looking for a way back after ranking fall
The former world No. 4 is another player whose season has been disrupted by injuries, and in recent weeks she has finally fallen outside the top 100.
She lost the chance to enter the US Open main draw directly and now needs to rebuild her ranking and collect points. In three appearances at the tournament, she has reached the quarterfinals twice, making it the Grand Slam where she has produced her best numbers in her career (10-3 record, 77% win rate).
The former Olympic gold medalist already missed the event in 2025 due to injury, and this time she is currently listed in qualifying — potentially her first Grand Slam qualifying campaign since the early stages of her career. Although preference will likely go to the emerging American players on the Tour, it would not be surprising if organizers reward Zheng with a wildcard.
Zheng Qinwen reached the quarterfinals in her last two appearances at the US Open (2023, 2024).
6. Grigor Dimitrov seeking another Grand Slam opportunity
The Bulgarian already has several tournaments under his belt since returning to competition in recent weeks. After missing a large part of the 2025 season, the former world No. 3 needed several weeks to regain his fitness and return to competitive form.
His run to the fourth round at Wimbledon showed that he still has the level to compete at Grand Slam tournaments at 35 years old, but unfortunately, he did not secure a direct place in the US Open main draw. Dimitrov was a semifinalist at the US Open back in 2019, losing to Daniil Medvedev, and his latest appearance in 2024 was another notable run to the quarterfinals.
The Bulgarian will try to avoid qualifying and will look for a wildcard, which could make him a tricky opponent for any top name in a potential opening round. Dimitrov remains capable of challenging the best players at any tournament. Otherwise, he will have to face qualifying and win three consecutive matches to reach the main draw.
7. Jack Draper hoping for wildcard after ranking drop
The former world No. 4 will return to competition this week at the DC Open, looking to show improvements in his physical condition with the US Open as his main objective.
A semifinalist at the tournament in 2024, Draper ended last season’s campaign by retiring due to injury, leaving his participation at a tournament where he could potentially perform well unfinished. However, he does not have a guaranteed place in the main draw after his ranking dropped outside the top 150, and he is currently listed in qualifying.
Draper is waiting for a wildcard from tournament organizers, although nothing is guaranteed and seeing him compete in qualifying would not be a surprise.
This week it was also confirmed that Draper will play a Challenger tournament to regain confidence in the weeks before the US Open, meaning that collecting matches could actually benefit him by adding competitive time on court and helping him arrive with better rhythm at the Grand Slam.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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