Dominic Thiem will play his first US Open match since lifting the title almost two years ago after he received a wildcard into the main draw from organizers on Wednesday.
The former world No.3 is one of three former Grand Slam winners to have received a pass into the tournament which will get underway later this month. Thiem won his first and so far only major title in New York back in 2020 by coming back from two sets down to defeat Alexander Zverev in a marathon encounter. Since then, the Austrian has been blighted by a wrist injury and was forced to miss last year’s US Open due to the injury.
Thiem, who decided against using his protected ranking to play in the tournament, is currently ranked 228th in the world. So far this season he has achieved a win-loss record of 7-9 on the ATP Tour with his best result being a run to the semi-finals of the Gstaad Open. He has reached the quarter-final stage or better at his three more recent tournaments.
Other recipients include Tour veteran Sam Querrey who will make his 16th appearance in the main draw. Querrey reached the quarter-finals back in 2017 before losing to Kevin Anderson. French world No.155 Ugo Humbert and Australian world No.199 Rinky Hijikata have also secured a place through the reciprocal agreements between the USTA, the FFT and Tennis Australia.
Ben Shelton, who won his first Masters 1000 match on Wednesday at the Western and Southern Open, is among a group of home players that have secured their places. J.J.Wolf, Emilio Nava and Learner have also received wildcards.
The return of venus
In the women’s tournament, Venus Williams will return to New York on what will be the 25th anniversary of when she made her debut at the Grand Slam. A two-time champion in 2000 and 2001, the 42-year-old missed the tournament last year due to a leg injury. She has won 79 matches at the US Open so far in her career.
2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin joins Williams in the main draw as she continues her comeback from a foot injury. The 23-year-old didn’t play after Wimbledon last year due to injury and catching COVID-19. As for this season, Kenin hasn’t won a match since January but didn’t play any tournaments between April and July.
After winning a WTA 125 event in Massachusetts earlier this month, Coco Vandeweghe is also heading into the US Open. She won the doubles title back in 2018 with Ash Barty. Harmony Tan, who defeated Serena Williams at Wimbledon earlier this year, and Jaimee Fourlis have also been selected. Other wildcards go to Elizabeth Mandlik, Peyton Stearns and Eleana Yu who will all be making their debut.
The US Open will get underway on August 29th. Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu are the defending champions.
Full list of wildcards
WOMEN
- Jaimee Fourlis USA
- Sofia Kenin USA
- Elizabeth Mandlik USA
- Peyton Stearns USA
- Harmony Tan FRA
- Coco Vandeweghe USA
- Venus Williams USA
- Eleana Yu USA
MEN
- Rinky Hijikata AUS
- Ugo Humbert FRA
- Emilio Nava USA
- Sam Querrey USA
- Ben Shelton USA
- Dominic Thiem AUT
- Learner Tien USA
- J.J. Wolf USA
Qualifying wildcards (all American)
WOMEN
- Kayla Day, 22
- Valerie Glozman, 15
- Catherine Harrison, 28
- Liv Hovde, 16
- Elvina Kalieva, 19
- Ashlyn Krueger, 18
- Christina McHale, 30
- Whitney Osuigwe, 20
- Katrina Scott, 18
MEN
- Murphy Cassone, 19
- Oliver Crawford, 23
- Martin Damm, 18
- Brandon Holt, 24
- Aleks Kovacevic, 23
- Bruno Kuzuhara, 18
- Alex Rybakov, 25
- Ethan Quinn, 18
- Zach Svajda, 19
