ORLANDO, November 4, 2024 (USTA Press Release)

University of Arizona senior Colton Smith and Stanford junior Nishesh Basavareddy are the current front-runners in the Men’s Australian Open Wild Card Challenge as it crosses its halfway point. Smith holds the lead for the second consecutive week, while Basavareddy’s run to the final at the USTA Pro Circuit Challenger 75 in Charlottesville, Va., last week puts him in contention as many of the Challenge contenders play the USTA Pro Circuit Challenger in Knoxville, Tenn., this week.

Men’s Standings — Week 2

(Player’s current ranking in parenthesis)

1. Colton Smith (362) — 56
2. Nishesh Basavareddy (170) — 44
3. Mackenzie McDonald (128) — 24
T4. Murphy Cassone (325) — 22
T4. Learner Tien (121) — 22

The men’s wild card will be awarded to the American with the most ranking points earned from a maximum of three events during a four-week window that runs through the week of November 11. 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.

Final Women’s Standings

(Player’s Nov. 4 ranking in parenthesis)

1. Sofia Kenin (85) — 395
2. Hailey Baptiste (89) — 240
3. Caroline Dolehide (82) — 164
4. Bernarda Pera (75) — 149
5. Iva Jovic (210) — 141
6. McCartney Kessler (68) — 117
7. Ann Li (93) — 104

The USTA and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which main draw wild cards for the 2025 Australian Open and US Open will be exchanged.