By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 14, 2024
A pair of former champions have been awarded women’s singles wild cards into this year’s US Open draw.
The tournament awarded main draw wild cards to two-time champion Naomi Osaka and 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu on Wednesday, and finalized the eight wild card slots for the women's singles tournament.
2018 and 2020 champion Osaka and Andreescu will be joined by Americans Amanda Anisimova, McCartney Kessler, Iva Jovic and Alexa Noel.
Four-time major champion Osaka is currently ranked 90 and is in her first season back after missing time for maternity leave.
Andreescu is ranked 166. She missed much of the season due to a back injury. In 2019 Andreescu became the first player to even win the US Open on her main draw debut, a feat that was later matched by Emma Raducanu in 2021.
France’s Chloe Paquet and Australia’s Taylah Preston were awarded wild cards via their countries’ reciprocal agreements with the USTA.
US Open main draw play commences Monday August 26, while qualifying commences next Monday, August 19.
21-year-old Noel won the NCAA women’s singles titles this year for the University Miami. 16-year-old Jovic won the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championship title in San Diego.