According to a Thursday announcement from the US Tennis Association, the US Open singles main draw will include former champions Stan Wawrinka, Bianca Andreescu, and Naomi Osaka via wildcards. Osaka, who dominated the tournament in 2018 and 2020 and holds four Grand Slam trophies, has been working her way back since January after starting a family. Her return has seen some promising signs, including four deep runs into the third round or beyond at WTA 1000 events.
Former champions Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, and Stan Wawrinka have earned singles main draw wildcards to the US Open, the US Tennis Association said on Thursday. Japan’s Osaka, who has four Grand Slam championships, won the US Open twice in 2018 and 2020. The former world no.1 player returned to competition in January after giving birth to her daughter and has advanced to the third round or better in four WTA 1000 events this season.
Despite her progress, the four-time Major winner admits she feels disconnected from her usual level of play. After taking 15 months off to welcome her daughter, Osaka is perplexed by a noticeable dip in her accuracy and strength on the court. Currently ranked 90th in the world, her highlight performances this season have been reaching the quarter-finals in both S-Hertogenbosch and Doha.
Osaka shared that although she has had a few glimpses of her peak form this year, she believes her current struggles are likely a side effect of adapting to various court surfaces. She compared this feeling of disorientation to the post-partum experience. As she prepares to return to Flushing Meadows—the site of her two previous titles—she expressed confusion over why her game feels as though she is starting from scratch.
Canadian Bianca Andreescu, who took the title in 2019, is also returning to the spotlight after a nine-month absence caused by a back injury; she showed her resilience by reaching the French Open third round in her comeback event. Meanwhile, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka, whose third Grand Slam came at the 2016 US Open, will make his 72nd appearance in a Major main draw, a milestone that places him fifth on the all-time list.
Dominic Thiem of Austria, the 2020 champion, has also received a wildcard. Thiem previously shared the bittersweet news that a wrist injury will force him to retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. The tournament is scheduled to take place in New York from August 26 through September 8.
In other news, renowned coach Rick Macci has tipped Carlos Alcaraz to take the 2024 title, calling the Spaniard a \"magician\" on the court. Macci believes that Alcaraz's recent disappointment in the Olympic gold medal match will only fuel his resolve, adding a new level of toughness and determination to his game.