As the grand slam tournaments are regulated by the ATP the qualifying criteria for the US Open is much like qualification for the three other grand slams. Players are selected based on their ranking and the top 32 players in the world will qualify automatically for the main draw. These players are selected according to their world rankings at the beginning of the fortnight and the seeding process is slightly adjusted depending on the hard court prowess of each individual and in light of their previous performances at Flushing Meadows and in the tournaments leading up to the US Open as part of the American hard court season.
The majority of the rest of the draw is compiled from the world’s top 100 ranked players in both men’s and ladies’ singles and being in the world’s top 72 at the US Open guarantees a main draw spot, with others being invited or sent through the rigorous nature of qualifying.
Apart from the seeds and invited players, a selected few lucky players who aren’t ranked high enough are given a ‘wild card’ entry to the tournament. At the US Open these ‘wild cards’ have a very American feel with invitations being handed out every year to prospective young US tennis players looking to make their mark on a larger stage with a partisan home crowd willing them on. A system that has bode well for America in the past with players such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick all commenting that they benefited from the wildcard system at the Open early on in their careers and although they didn’t win the tournament as young wild cards, they all went on to claim the trophy later in their careers. Wild cards are also given out to players from overseas too; they may occasionally be given to a younger player who has shown outstanding results during the past year and who may be of notable interest to fans and press at the US Open or a player who is coming back from serious injury.
If a player has not been invited or awarded a wild card there is still a chance of playing in U.S. Open through the qualification process. Qualifying begins the week before the main tournament and there is plenty at stake for the competitors. There are 32 places that have been held back and can be gained through qualification; 16 places for men and 16 for women. The qualification draw is the same size as the main draw with 128 men and women competing and the 16 unbeaten players progress and in doing so gain a place in U.S. Open draw.
All is not lost for those who fall at the final stage of qualifying either. ‘Lucky losers’ as they are known, are placed into the main draw should any player pull out before the first round begins through injury or illness. Priority is given to the players who have the highest world ranking and often these ‘lucky losers’ progress through the first few rounds and make for fascinating stories that add to the US Open drama.
As always, qualifiers and wildcard entries spring very few surprises and manage to get through to the latter stages however one significant advantage of playing in the qualifying tournament is the much-needed match practice, which may give a player an edge on a higher ranked opponent in the opening rounds.
The majority of the rest of the draw is compiled from the world’s top 100 ranked players in both men’s and ladies’ singles and being in the world’s top 72 at the US Open guarantees a main draw spot, with others being invited or sent through the rigorous nature of qualifying.
Apart from the seeds and invited players, a selected few lucky players who aren’t ranked high enough are given a ‘wild card’ entry to the tournament. At the US Open these ‘wild cards’ have a very American feel with invitations being handed out every year to prospective young US tennis players looking to make their mark on a larger stage with a partisan home crowd willing them on. A system that has bode well for America in the past with players such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick all commenting that they benefited from the wildcard system at the Open early on in their careers and although they didn’t win the tournament as young wild cards, they all went on to claim the trophy later in their careers. Wild cards are also given out to players from overseas too; they may occasionally be given to a younger player who has shown outstanding results during the past year and who may be of notable interest to fans and press at the US Open or a player who is coming back from serious injury.
If a player has not been invited or awarded a wild card there is still a chance of playing in U.S. Open through the qualification process. Qualifying begins the week before the main tournament and there is plenty at stake for the competitors. There are 32 places that have been held back and can be gained through qualification; 16 places for men and 16 for women. The qualification draw is the same size as the main draw with 128 men and women competing and the 16 unbeaten players progress and in doing so gain a place in U.S. Open draw.
All is not lost for those who fall at the final stage of qualifying either. ‘Lucky losers’ as they are known, are placed into the main draw should any player pull out before the first round begins through injury or illness. Priority is given to the players who have the highest world ranking and often these ‘lucky losers’ progress through the first few rounds and make for fascinating stories that add to the US Open drama.
As always, qualifiers and wildcard entries spring very few surprises and manage to get through to the latter stages however one significant advantage of playing in the qualifying tournament is the much-needed match practice, which may give a player an edge on a higher ranked opponent in the opening rounds.