The US Open entry lists have been released, and several big names failed to make the main draw cut.
Whether it be because of injuries or poor form, a whole host of former top-10 and top-five stars will need to either win three matches in qualifying or receive a wild card if they are to play the US Open main draw this year.
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Here are five big-name players who may need to qualify for the 2026 US Open.
Five players you wouldn’t have expected to see in US Open qualifying
Qinwen Zheng
An Olympic gold medalist and Grand Slam finalist two years ago, Qinwen Zheng now finds herself ranked outside the world’s top 100.
Live WTA Rankings
- 120. Lucia Bronzetti – 626 points
- 121. Sonay Kartal – 618 points
- 122. Qinwen Zheng – 610 points
- 123. Yue Yuan – 602 points
- 124. Mary Stoiana – 602 points
The Chinese superstar underwent elbow surgery last season and has yet to rediscover the form that saw her reach a career-high ranking of fourth.
When Zheng lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the quarter-finals of last week’s Hellenic Championships in Athens, she surrendered any chance of reaching the US Open main draw directly.
There is, however, a slim chance that she may receive a wild card into the main draw, as a former two-time US Open quarter-finalist.
Jack Draper
Great Britain’s Jack Draper was at the top of his game a year ago, winning his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, and like Zheng, reaching world number four.
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However, a series of injuries derailed his progress, and the 24-year-old hasn’t played any Grand Slam matches this year.
If he is to play any at the US Open, he will likely need to go through qualifying.
As a former semi-finalist in New York, tournament organisers might consider offering him a wild card, but he may not have done quite enough in his career to warrant a main draw spot.
The good news for Draper is that when he’s played, he’s looked competitive this year.
Draper beat Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells and reached the semi-finals of Eastbourne the last time he played.
If he is fit, don’t be surprised to see the former world number four advance through qualifying and win a couple of main draw matches at Flushing Meadows.
Grigor Dimitrov
12 months on from his heartbreaking injury at Wimbledon, Grigor Dimitrov returned with a point to prove, reaching the fourth round at SW19.
Unfortunately for the Bulgarian, he would have needed a few more wins on the grass to secure his spot in the US Open main draw.
Unless he receives a wild card, he, too, will need to qualify in New York.
Dimitrov was unsuccessful in his bid to qualify for the French Open earlier this year, losing in the first round of qualifying to Portugal’s Jaime Faria, but may fare better on hard courts.
There is a case to be made for Dimitrov to receive a wild card, as he is a former US Open junior champion and reached the semi-finals in 2019.
However, if it’s between him and the next player on the list, there is little to no chance he gets a wild card…
Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka won the US Open a decade ago, defeating Djokovic in the final.
His ranking isn’t strong enough to see him qualify for Grand Slam main draws, but Wawrinka has been given a wild card for the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in his last year on tour.
There is no reason why the US Open won’t do the same, offering a former champion one last chance to entertain fans on a Grand Slam stage.
The chances of him winning a match in America look slim, given his recent form, but that’s no reason to deny him a wild card.
Stan Wawrinka’s last five matches
- Challenger Estoril 1R [LOSS] vs Roman Andres Burruchaga, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6
- Swiss Open 1R [LOSS] vs Jaime Faria, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6
- Wimbledon 1R [LOSS] vs Matteo Berrettini, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-7
- French Open 1R [LOSS] vs Jesper De Jong, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6
- Geneva Open 2R [LOSS] vs Alex Michelsen, 6-7, 6-7
Bianca Andreescu
Speaking of US Open champions… Bianca Andreescu is also in need of a wild card this year.
The Canadian won the title in 2019, and reached a career-high of fourth in the world shortly after, but it’s fair to say she’s not that player anymore.
Andreescu hasn’t been a top-100 player for several years, and last won a Grand Slam main draw match over two years ago at Wimbledon.
She was given a wild card at the US Open in 2024, but it remains to be seen if she will receive another in 2026.
The 2026 US Open begins on Sunday, August 30.
