Former Grand Slam champs Venus Williams, Dominic Thiem and Sofia Kenin lead US Open wild cards list

6 American women and 5 American me are among those who received wild cards for the US Open

Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem among the wild card recipients for the 2022 US Open Image Credit: Image Credits: Zuma / Imago / Panoramic/ Tennis Majors

Haresh Ramchandani

August 18, 2022

Former US Open champions Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem, as well as former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, were among the leading names who have been awarded a wild card for the US Open, which begins in New York on August 29.

Williams, who won the singles title at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, will compete in her 23rd US Open main draw.

The 42-year-old America legend has missed the tournament only three times (including last year) since reaching the final in her debut appearance here in 1997.

US Open main draw No. 2️⃣3️⃣ loading… pic.twitter.com/V2TyfDbzjB
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 17, 2022

Joining Williams as wild card recipients on the women’s side are five other Americans – 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin (on the way back after a four-month injury lay-off), Coco Vandeweghe (former world No 9), Elizabeth Mandlik (winner of the US Open Wild Card Challenge), Peyton Stearns (the 2022 NCAA singles champion) and Eleana Yu (the USTA Girls’ 18s national champion).

Australia’s Jaimee Fourlis and France’s Harmony Tan, who sensationally knocked out Serena Williams in the first round of Wimbledon this year, received wild cards as part of reciprocal wild card agreements with Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation.

On the men’s side, former champion Dominic Thiem returns to Flushing Meadows for the first time since winning his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.

Two years after his 🏆, Dominic Thiem is back! pic.twitter.com/CDqpdRZfpw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 17, 2022

The former world No 3 missed the second half of last season and the first few months of 2022 due to a wrist injury which prevented him from defending his title 12 months ago.

34-year-old Sam Querrey (former world No. 11), 20-year-old Emilio Nava, 23-year-old J.J. Wolf, 19-year-old Ben Shelton (NCAA singles champion in May) and 16-year-old Learner Tien (the USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion), are among the American men who received a wild card.

France’s Ugo Humbert and Australia’s Rinky Hijikata also earned wild cards, based on reciprocal agreements between the USTA, the FFT and Tennis Australia, respectively.

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