Not Serena, Dimitrov or Wawrinka - icons snubbed for final US Open wildcards
The final two singles wildcards for the US Open have been confirmed - but Serena Williams, Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka are not among the recipients. The initial list of wildcards left an open spot for both the men's and women's draws, and it was expected that two of the three tennis legends would fill them. Wawrinka, who won the US Open in 2016, is retiring at the end of the season and the 41-year-old veteran was hoping to play at a Grand Slam one last time in New York.
But he will not get a grand send-off. Instead, American world No.115 Patrick Kypson has received the last men's wildcard. It means world No.125 Wawrinka will not get a chance to wave goodbye to Arthur Ashe Stadium, while Dimitrov - who has dropped to 138th in the ATP rankings - will be another high-profile absence. Both had been handed wildcards for Wimbledon earlier this summer.
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Despite the fact three-time major winner Wawrinka will not play at the US Open, Gael Monfils will. The Frenchman, 39, is also set to retire imminently and the Frenchman has been invited to the tournament despite only reaching the semi-finals once.
Although she has not taken a singles wildcard, Serena will still appear at Flushing Meadows. The 45-year-old will team up with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles event next week with £733,000 ($1million) on the line for the winning team.
The pair, who have a combined 44 singles and doubles Grand Slam titles, are one of eight pairs handed a wildcard for the revamped event, which now takes place before the singles draw begins.
Serena returned to tennis in June after four years away and lost on her singles comeback at Wimbledon, while she joined forces with her older sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open last week. The pair lost in their first match in Ohio.
Another pairing sees Monfils team up with his wife, Elina Svitolina, while 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka form a blockbuster duo.
The US Open announced this week it will offer the biggest prize pot in Slam history with a 20 per cent increase on last year. A total pot of £79.2million ($108m) will see £4.03m ($5.5m) handed to the singles winners.
Darwin Blanch, Michael Zheng, JJ Wolf, Sebastian Gorzny, Jack Kennedy, Patrick Kypson, Gael Monfils, Dane Sweeny
Sofia Kenin, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Carol Young Suh Lee, Reese Brantmeier, Thea Frodin, Leolia Jeanjean, Taylah Preston