ORLANDO, Fla., November 10, 2026 (USTA Media Release)
Twenty-six-year-old Claire Liu won the women’s Australian Open Wild Card Challenge with her first career WTA 250 trophy at the Hong Kong Tennis Open this past weekend. The victory, however, moved Liu to No. 69 in the world rankings – good enough to secure direct acceptance into the Australian Open main draw when the entry lists are confirmed early next month. As a result, the Australian Open wild card will be awarded to second-place finisher Reese Brantmeier as the next-highest eligible player in the standings.
Aidan Mayo has taken the lead in the men’s challenge as it completes week 3 of 5. Mayo took over the top spot in the men’s challenge by reaching the final of the Charlottesville Challenger 75 as a qualifier. Mayo fell in the final to this week’s biggest mover, Stefan Kozlov, who captured his first title of the season to vault into a tie for second alongside former co-leaders Jenson Brooksby and Martin Damm.
The top of the women’s standings after Week 5 of 5:
Women’s Standings
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)
1. Claire Liu (69) — 322
2. Reese Brantmeier (181) — 170
3. Sloane Stephens (117) — 127
4. Malaika Rapolu (245) — 112
5. Julieta Pareja (204) — 104
The top of the men’s standings after Week 3 of 5:
Men’s Standings
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)
1. Aidan Mayo (235) — 85
T2. Jenson Brooksby (93) — 82
T2. Martin Damm (102) — 82
T2. Stefan Kozlov (205) — 82
5. Darwin Blanch (149) — 64
The USTA and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which main draw singles wild cards for the 2027 Australian Open and US Open will be exchanged.
The women’s wild card will be awarded to the American with the most ranking points earned at a maximum of three tournaments during a five-week window, beginning with events starting the week of October 5. The women’s Challenge window runs through the week of November 2. All indoor and outdoor hard-court and carpet events at the W35 level and above, including WTA Tour events, will be included in the Challenge.
The men’s wild card will be awarded to the American with the most ranking points earned from a maximum of four events during a five-week window that begins the week of October 19 and runs through the week of November 16. All indoor and outdoor hard-court and carpet events at the M25 level and above, including ATP Tour and Challenger events, will be included in the Challenge.
Ranking points earned in the main draw and qualifying will be counted toward each player’s Challenge point total. Should the player with the highest number of Challenge points earn direct entry into the Australian Open, the wild card will go to the next eligible American in the Challenge points standings. In the event of a tie for the men or the women, the player with the best singles ranking on the Monday immediately following the conclusion of the Challenge will earn the wild card. Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the Australian Open are not eligible.
