USTA Press Release, August 9, 2022
The leaders in the men’s and women’s US Open Wild Card Challenges heading into the final week are as follows:
Men
1. JJ Wolf — 106
2. Aleks Kovacevic — 963. Evan Zhu — 384. Chris Eubanks — 36
For the men, Aleks Kovacevic, Evan Zhu and Chris Eubanks are all playing the USTA Pro Circuit Challenger 80 this week in Chicago, while Wolf is idle after reaching the quarterfinals at the Citi Open ATP 500 in Washington, D.C., last week. Wolf is also currently five spots out from direct acceptance into the US Open main draw, per the latest entry list. Should Wolf win the Challenge and then gain direct entry into the US Open, the Challenge wild card would go to the player who finished in second place.
(Note that Aleks Kovacevic’s and Evan Zhu’s point totals were adjusted from last week due to an error. Their current point totals are accurate.)
Women
1. Elizabeth Mandlik — 109
2. Ashlyn Krueger — 81
3. Taylor Townsend — 80
4. Katrina Scott — 74
5. Caroline Dolehide — 68
For the women, Elizabeth Mandlik — the daughter of former US Open champion Hana Mandlikova — now leads Ashlyn Krueger after qualifying and reaching the second round at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic WTA 500 in San Jose last week. Mandlik and Dolehide are playing the USTA Pro Circuit W100 in Landisville, Pa., this week, while Krueger, Townsend and Scott are all playing the WTA 125 in Concord, Mass.
Both wild cards will go to the American with the highest cumulative total of ATP or WTA singles ranking points earned from their best three results during their respective windows. Both the men’s and women’s Challenges will include results from any professional hard-court event at the 25 level and above around the world. Both main draw and qualifying points earned count toward each player’s Challenge total.
Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the US Open are not eligible, nor are players ranked in the ATP or WTA Top 50 when the Challenges begin. Should the player with the highest number of Challenge points earn direct entry into the US Open, the wild card will go to the next eligible American in the Challenge points standings. In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on August 15 will earn the wild card.
Previous US Open Wild Card Challenge winners (and how they did at that year’s US Open) are below:
2019: Ernesto Escobedo (1R), Kristie Ahn (4R)
2018: Bradley Klahn (1R), Asia Muhammad (1R)
2017: Tommy Paul (1R), Sofia Kenin (3R)
2016: Ernesto Escobedo (2R), Sofia Kenin (1R)
2015: Bjorn Fratangelo (1R), Samantha Crawford (1R)
2014: Wayne Odesnik (1R), Nicole Gibbs (3R)
2013: Bradley Klahn (2R), Shelby Rogers (1R)
2012: Steve Johnson (3R), Mallory Burdette (3R)
