Orlando, Fla., November 3, 2026 (USTA Media Release)
Reigning NCAA singles champion Reese Brantmeier and men’s co-leaders Jenson Brooksby and Martin Damm sit atop the Australian Open Wild Card Challenge after week 4 of 5 for the women and week 2 of 5 for the men.
Brantmeier has taken the lead as the women’s challenge heads into its final week. She secured titles in Canada in consecutive weeks, following her W75 Saguenay victory by winning the W75 Toronto this past weekend. The biggest mover of the week was Caroline Dolehide, who won the USTA Pro Circuit W100 New Braunfels in Texas over the weekend. Dolehide and Claire Liu lead five longer-shot contenders who can still pass Brantmeier to clinch the women’s wild card in its final week.
Brooksby and Damm share the top spot in the men’s challenge after week two of its five-week window, with Damm pulling level after reaching the final of the ATP Challenger 100 in Brest, France, over the weekend.
The top of the women’s standings after Week 4 of 5:
Women’s Standings
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)
1. Reese Brantmeier (182) — 170
2. Sloane Stephens (113) — 127
3. Julieta Pareja (202) — 104
4. Caroline Dolehide (172) — 101
5. Claire Liu (102) — 87
The top of the men’s standings after Week 2 of 5:
Men’s Standings
(Player’s current ranking in parentheses)
T1. Jenson Brooksby (94) — 82
T1. Martin Damm (102) — 82
3. Darwin Blanch (139) — 58
4. Aidan Mayo (285) — 37
5. J. J. Wolf (204) — 20
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.
