US Open wildcard bombshell as Venus Williams gets in and Stan Wawrinka is surprisingly snubbed
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One of them is on there. Venus Williams will be making it consecutive US Open singles appearances after her first round exit last year. She reached the quarter-finals of the doubles event alongside Leylah Fernandez in 2025 and is a two-time singles champion, although she has not made the final since 2022.
Sloane Stephens is also granted with a spot in the main draw. The 2017 winner took up the other discretionary main draw spots alongside Williams and will hope to roll back the years.
One notable exclusion is Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion has not been noted, but there is a TBD slot which could be snatched up by her if she decides to compete, similar to Wimbledon.
Williams and Stephens are, for the time being, joined by Caroll Young Suh Lee, Reese Brantmeier, Thea Frodin, Leolia Jeanjean and Taylah Preston.
WTA singles wildcards US Open 2026
| Player |
| Venus Williams |
| Sloane Stephens |
| Carol Young Suh Lee |
| Reese Brantmeier |
| Thea Frodin |
| Léolia Jeanjean |
| Taylah Preston |
| TBD |
Wawrinka and Draper snubbed
The men's also has some interesting decisions. Gael Monfils will return for the final time with Martin Damm, Michael Zheng, J.J.Wolf, Sebastian Gornzy, Jack Kennedy and Alexei Popyrin all getting free passageways through to the US Open main draw.
That is not the case for former champion Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss would have been hoping for automatic entry into the event in what will be his final time at Flushing Meadows. However, for the time being that possibility of competing is looking precarious.
Former semi-finalist Jack Draper is also not listed. He has been suffering with numerous injuries as of late, specifically his arm, and being ranked outside of the top 100, his only chance is making it through qualifying.
Similar to the women's event, there is a TBD spot up for grabs. This could be Wawrinka or Draper's route through to the main draw as the tournament prepares to commence very shortly.
ATP singles wildcards US Open 2026
| Player |
| Martin Damm |
| Michael Zheng |
| J.J. Wolf |
| Sebastian Gorzny |
| Jack Kennedy |
| Gaël Monfils |
| Alexei Popyrin |
| TBD |
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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