Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, John Isner among wildcards for US Open 2023
Ever since making his debut in 2007, former Top 10 player, John Isner, has never missed being on the US Open’s main draw. Now, at the age of 38, the two-time US Open quarterfinalist will keep his streak alive by securing his place as one of the eight wild card entries for the 2023 US Open.
Isner, an enduring fixture on the U.S. tennis scene, shares this accomplishment with a new generation of talented teens, ushering in a promising future for U.S tennis. The fresh faces are represented by U.S. tennis’ top teenagers, including Alex Michelsen, Ethan Quinn, and Learner Tien, who also received wild cards.
Adding to the mix is the previous world No. 21, Steve Johnson, who clinched the US Open Wild Card Challenge, and Michael Mmoh, who scaled new heights in his career by reaching the third round at the 2023 Australian Open as a lucky loser.
The final two wild cards go to Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, one-half of the 2023 Australian Open Men’s Doubles winners, and Benjamin Bonzi from France, chosen through the reciprocal wild cards agreement with Tennis Australia and the French tennis federation.
VENUS WILLIAMS BACK
Esteemed tennis icons, Venus Williams, with seven Grand Slam singles titles to her name, and Caroline Wozniacki, once ranked number one globally, are among the elite eight athletes who have been awarded wild cards into the main draw of the 2023 US Open women’s singles.
American talent, Ashlyn Krueger, Robin Montgomery, Kayla Day, and Clervie Ngounoue will also be gracing the court, alongside Australia’s Storm Hunter and France’s Fiona Ferro. These players were included as part of wild-card agreements that were coordinated reciprocally with Tennis Australia and the French tennis federation.
This year’s tournament would mark Williams’ 24th main draw participation in Queens, a court where she triumphed with consecutive titles in 2000 and 2001. The once top-ranked Williams, now 43, has made a comeback after an injury-induced hiatus of nearly six months during the year.
The grass-court season saw her return, and, staying true to her relentless spirit, she celebrated her first Top 20 win since 2019 just a couple of days back at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, emerging victorious over Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets.
On the other hand, Wozniacki, 33, is setting foot in a Grand Slam event for the first time since she opted for retirement after the 2020 Australian Open to embark on a journey of motherhood. Now, a mother of two delightful children, 2-year-old Olivia and 6-month-old James, the former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion is re-attuning herself to the courts, which saw her as the women’s singles finalist in 2009 and 2014.
US Open Main Draw Wild Cards (Women’s Singles)
Kayla Day, Fiono Ferro, Storm Hunter, Ashlyn Krueger, Robin Montgomery, Clervie Ngounoue, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki
US Open Main Draw Wild Cards (Men’s Singles)
Benjamin Bonzi, Rinky Hijikata, John Isner, Steve Johnson, Alex Michelsen, Michael Mmoh, Ethan Quinn, Learner Tien
