Former US Open champions Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, and Stan Wawrinka have all received wild card slots at this year’s tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York City, the United States Tennis Association announced.
Osaka won the women’s singles titles in 2018 and 2020, two of her four Grand Slam titles in total. After giving birth to her daughter, the Japanese player returned to tennis in January, having made it to the third round at least in four WTA 1000 tournaments since her return. Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, was sidelined for nine months as a result of a back injury. The Canadian reached the third round of this year’s Roland Garros, her first tournament appearance since returning from injury.
A three-time Grand Slam winner, Wawrinka won the men’s singles US Open competition in 2016. He will return for his 72nd main draw appearance at a Grand Slam competition. Another high-profile wild card in the men’s draw is Dominic Thiem, the winner of the 2020 edition of the tournament. The Austrian is set to retire from tennis at the end of the calendar year due to a wrist injury.
