Amanda Anisimova is primed for a US Open return, with the 22-year-old set to New York as a dangerous wild card after reaching the biggest WTA final of her career in Toronto.
The powerful American notched four consecutive Top 20 wins at the WTA 1000 event, including a quarterfinal upset of 2023 US Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka. By reaching the final, she secured the top women's spot in the 2024 US Open Wild Card Challenge and claimed her place in the main draw.
After taking a mental-health break from professional tennis for eight months in 2023, Anisimova returned in January and reached the Australian Open fourth round. She entered the Melbourne event with a protected ranking, but missed the cut for the US Open main draw with a ranking of No. 175 when the entry list was released last month.
Anisimova's US Open wild card may be the last one she needs for a long time, as her Toronto run lifted her back into the Top 50.
"I put the work in, I kept my head down, and I tried to come back to the sport with more of a relaxed feeling," Anisimova said after the final, as quoted on wtatennis.com. "Trying to enjoy each day as it comes and not being so serious about everything, because I think that takes away the joy from a lot of things. I think with that kind of approach to my everyday life, I think that's helped me a lot."
While Anisimova was beaten by Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, in an all-American Toronto title match, she was the only player to take a set off the champion on the week. After their meeting, Pegula praised her opponent's "big ball-striking" and her ability to "hit winners and kind of boss you around the court" — attributes that helped Anisimova reach the 2019 Roland Garros semifinals and the 2022 Wimbledon quarters early in her career.
Read more on USTA.com: Pegula beats Anisimova in all-American Toronto final
In the men's US Open Wild Card Challenge, 18-year-old Learner Tien finished atop the standings thanks to his success over the past six weeks. The California product won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title last month in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — part of a run of 28 consecutive match wins at ITF and Challenger events from May through July.
By winning the Bloomfield Hills title, Tien became the youngest American champion at the Challenger level since Frances Tiafoe (also 18) in 2016.
Tien has now earned wild cards into three consecutive US Opens, after winning back-to-back USTA Boys' 18s national singles championships in 2022-23.
The final US Open Wild Card Challenge standings are below:
Men
1. Learner Tien -- 109
2. Nishesh Basavareddy -- 74
3. Mitchell Krueger -- 53
T4. Eliot Spizzirri -- 51
T4. Colton Smith -- 51
Women
1. Amanda Anisimova -- 783
2. Alycia Parks -- 133
3. Robin Montgomery -- 110
4. Sophie Chang -- 103
5. Maria Mateas -- 75
The men's point totals consist of the cumulative ATP singles ranking points earned from each player's best four results over six weeks. The Men's Challenge counted outdoor and indoor hard-court events at the 25-level and above around the world.
The women's point totals consist of the cumulative WTA singles ranking points earned from each player's best three results over four weeks. The Women's Challenge counted outdoor and indoor hard-court events at the 35-level and above around the world.
Both main draw and qualifying points earned count toward each player’s Challenge total.
Americans who otherwise earn direct entry into the US Open are not eligible. Should the player with the highest number of Challenge points earn direct entry into the US Open, the wild card will go to the next eligible American in the Challenge points standings.
