USTA Press Release, September 16, 2022

The Australian Open Wild Card Challenge, which utilizes hard-court professional tournaments to award an American man and woman a main draw wild card into the Australian Open, will begin for the women with events the week of September 26 and run through the week of October 24.

The men’s Challenge dates and criteria will be announced next week. The USTA and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which main draw wild cards for the 2023 Australian Open and US Open will be exchanged.

The women’s wild cards will be awarded to the American with the most ranking points earned at a maximum of three indoor and / or outdoor hard court tournaments during the five-week window.All indoor and outdoor hard-court events at the 25 level and above, including WTA Tour events, will be included in the Challenge.

Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the Australian Open are not eligible, nor are players ranked in the WTA Top 50 at the start of the Challenge. 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 women, the player with the best WTA singles ranking on October 31 will earn the wild card.

Wild card recipients will have to follow all Australian Open protocols as it relates to quarantine or vaccination.