Former champion Juan Martin del Potro will play in his first US Open since 2013 after receiving a wild card into the event.
The 2009 champion has missed the New York grand slam in recent years due to a troublesome wrist injury that has sidelined him from action. He started his latest comeback in February at the Delray Beach Open, where he reached the semifinals. Since then the Argentine has surged in form on the tour. At the Olympic Games he defeated Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to clinch a silver medal.
Del Potro was one of six men to be awarded a wild card into the final grand slam of the season. The other five players were all Americans. 32-year-old Rajeev Ram will play in his seventh US Open after clinching a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics. Ram has only ever won two main draw matches in the tournament. The younger players to receive the honour were Bjorn Fratangelo, Mackenzie Donald, Michael Mmoh and Francis Tiafoe.
France and Australia are yet to confirm who they will be sending to the event. Both countries are allowed to nominate one player for the main draw.
#USOpen wildcards:
Juan Martin del Potro🇦🇷
Bjorn Fratangelo🇺🇸
Mackie McDonald🇺🇸
Michael Mmoh🇺🇸
Rajeev Ram🇺🇸
Frances Tiafoe🇺🇸
TBA🇦🇺
(TBA🇫🇷?)— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 16 August 2016
In the women’s draw Bethanie Mattek-Sands leads the list of wild card entries. World No.3 doubles player Mattek-Sands reached the third round at Flushing Meadows last year. Two of the entries will play in their first ever grand slam main draw. USTA Girls’ 18s national champion Kayla Day and Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge winner Sofia Kenin will get their first taste of life on the main stage of tennis. Danielle Collins, who won the NCAA singles title earlier this year, is another entrant. The unranked American has only played two ITF tournament since September 2014. Lauren Davis, Vania King and France’s Virginie Razzano were the other players to receive a wildcard. Australia is yet to confirm their entry.
#USOpen wild cards:
Danielle Collins🇺🇸
Kayla Day🇺🇸
Lauren Davis🇺🇸
Sofia Kenin🇺🇸
Vania King🇺🇸
Bethanie Mattek-Sands🇺🇸
V. Razzano🇫🇷
TBA🇦🇺— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 16 August 2016
A total of sixteen other players also received wild card’s into the qualifying competition, which begins on August 23rd. Those players are the following:-
Men’s
Vasil Kirkov USA,
Mitchell Krueger USA
Sekou Bangoura USA
Reilly Opelka USA
Tennys Sandgren USA
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski USA
Ryan Shane USA
Christian Harrison USA
The final spot will be awarded to the winner of the US Open National Playoffs Men’s Singles Championship.
Women’s
Melanie Oudin USA
Laura Robson GBR
Amanda Anisimova USA
Nicole Frenkel USA
Jamie Loeb USA
Raveena Kingsley USA
Francesca Di Lorenzo USA
Ellie Halbauer USA
The final qualifying wild card will be awarded to the winner of the US Open National Playoffs.
