Venus Williams hasn't won a singles tennis match since July 2025. The seven-time Grand Slam champion and former women's No. 1 is currently 611th in the WTA rankings and 46 year's old, but she is in the main draw of the 2026 US Open, thanks to a wild card.
"I get a lot of joy out of being different or unexpected or bucking the system,” she told Vogue earlier this year. "I find that thrilling."
Nevertheless, her invitation to play in the women's singles of the US Open raises a fundamental question: How do wild cards work?
The power of the organizers
A wild card allows a player to participate in a tournament even if their current ranking doesn't warrant it. Organizers can use wild cards to promote young players, facilitate comebacks—or bring in big names.
Williams' case is supported by her extraordinary career. She won two of her seven Grand Slam titles at the US Open and her name alone still sells tickets.
'The most effective tool for developing young talent'
In a statement to DW, the German Tennis Federation (DTB) described wild cards as "one of the most effective tools for developing young talent."
It was something that offered youngsters with "experience at the highest international level—experience that cannot be fully replicated through training or competing at lower-tier tournaments."
However, the DTB also noted: "In our view, there is no automatic priority given to either 'big names' or up-and-coming players. The deciding factors are the specific situation and the tournament's objectives."
In addition to sporting criteria, factors such as "a tournament's appeal or marketing potential could also play a role," the DTB explained. However, there must "always be clearly added value for the tournament and the sport."
Mixed reactions from the tennis world
After Venus received a wild card for the Miami Open in March despite being on a losing streak, former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov was critical.
"I have incredible respect for Venus Williams' achievements. Multiple Grand Slam singles champion, world No.1, but it's time," he told the Hard Court podcast. He also argued that wild cards would be better used to help younger players in their development.
Andy Roddick, former US Open winner and world No. 1, disagreed.
"You can save all of your 'she shouldn't get a wild card.' If you won five Wimbledons, seven majors, you're part of the most iconic tennis family in history, this is a win for the tournament at Washington DC, the city of Washington DC," Roddick said on his Served podcast ahead of last year's DC Open.
Andy Murray also pushed back against criticism regarding his wild cards back in 2021. After everything he had been through and contributed to the sport, he "shouldn't have to justify why I should get wild cards," said the three-time Grand Slam winner.
Venus' sister, Serena, received a wild card for Wimbledon this year at the age of 44. The 23-time Grand Slam champion had not played a singles match in nearly four years prior to that. She lost in the first round. (Both Venus and Serena have also been granted a wild card to compete in the US Open women's doubles.)
Wawrinka' frown turned upside down
Stanislas Wawrinka, who is retiring after this season had hoped for one final appearance at the US Open – but was initially denied a wild card. It was bitterly disappointing for the now 41-year-old Swiss, who is ranked 127th in the men's rankings but won the tournament in 2016 – one of his three career Grand Slam titles. However, after the slightly higher ranked American, Patrick Kypson, withdrew due to injury, the organizers extended an invitation to a delighted Wawrinka.
"I'm incredibly excited to accept the wild card for the 2026 US Open and look forward to competing in front of the fans in New York once again," he said in a statement.
Tatjana Maria has also experienced just how unpredictable wild card decisions can be. The German won the WTA 500 tournament at London's Queen's Club in 2025, defeating four top-20 players along the way. A year later, the defending champion didn't receive a wild card, with all four invitations going to British players.
"I was pretty sure I'd get a wild card—or at least I hoped so, since I won here last year," Maria said.
She wound up having to go through the qualifying rounds—and won both of her matches to make it into the main draw.
Two bagels and 20 double faults
There was also a bizarre case in Kenya earlier this year. At the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour W35 tournament in Nairobi, 21-year-old Egyptian player Hajar Abdelkader received a wild card. The World Tennis Tour is a developmental series for the WTA Tour.
Abdelkader lost to Germany's Lorena Schaedel 0–6, 0–6 in a match that lasted just 37 minutes. She won just three points and committed 20 double faults.
The ITF described her performance level as "unacceptable." Tennis Kenya admitted that she shouldn't have been granted a wild card. The ITF announced plans to review its procedures and consider establishing a minimum sporting standard for wild cards.
A better solution?
The US Open itself has found a way to tie wild cards more directly to sporting criteria. In the US Tennis Association's "Wild Card Challenge," players accumulate world ranking points over several weeks; the leader at the end secures a spot in the main draw. Carol Young Suh Lee clinched a main-draw women's singles wild card for this year's tournament, while J.J. Wolf did the same on the men's side.
