The US Open has offered a helping hand to a quartet of former champions whose tennis fortunes have taken a dive in recent seasons.
Grand Slam bosses offered main draw singles wild cards to men’s 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka and 2020 holder Dominic Thiem.
Getting the gift in the women’s draw were 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu of Canada and Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who lifted the trophy in 2020.
It is the first time ever four former champs have needed wild cards into the final major of the season.
One past protagonist who was ignored was Montreal quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori, 2014 runner-up to Marin Cilic in New York..
Open officials also announced that fans in the vast Ashe stadium will be allowed to enter and leave in between every game instead of only at changeovers.
Main photo:- Stan Wawrinka wins French Open in 2015 by Anne Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
