US Open 2024: These former champions have received wild cards
The US Open 2024 season kicks off from Monday, August 26. Ahead of the season's fourth and final Grand Slam event, the tournament organizers handed out wild cards to several former champions in men's and women's singles. Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu have received wild cards alongside Stan Wawrinka and the retiring Dominic Thiem. Here we present key details of past champions who have been handed wild cards.
Naomi Osaka is a two-time US Open winner
Osaka, who has previously won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, will be making a return to the tournament. Osaka took a maternity leave in 2023 for the birth of her daughter. Since her return, she has participated in three Grand Slam tournaments this year using her protected ranking. Osaka has been battling poor form of late and is 17-16 on the WTA Tour this season. She owns a 22-5 win-loss record at the US Open.
Bianca Andreescu won the 2019 US Open
Andreescu won her first Grand Slam title at the 2019 US Open. She became the first Canadian player to win a Grand Slam singles title. That same year, Andreescu also won WTA 1000 titles at Indian Wells and her home event of Toronto. Andreescu holds a 12-2 win-loss record at the US Open. The 24-year-old missed last year's edition due to injuries. Andreescu suffered a first-round exit in the ongoing Cincinnati Masters.
Stan Wawrinka won the 2016 US Open
Wawrinka lifted his third Grand Slam and first US Open title in 2016. He had overcome Novak Djokovic 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Wawrinka is also a two-time semi-finalist and a three-time quarter-finalist at the US Open. He owns a win-loss record of 46-15. In 2024, 39-year-old Wawrinka suffered a first-round exit at the Australian Open before being ousted in the second round at Roland Garros and Wimbledon respectively.
Dominic Thiem won the 2020 US Open
Thiem would be hoping to finish his career on a high as he takes the court at the 2024 US Open. 30-year-old Thiem had announced that the 2024 season will be his last. He claimed his lone Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open, where he came back from two sets down to defeat Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6). Thiem is 23-8 at the US Open. He is also a three-time Grand Slam finalist.
