The Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 champion, has been given a wildcard spot in this year's U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.
Hewitt beat Wimbledon quarter-finalist Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open yesterday, making a good switch to the hard court surface after some decent form on grass.
The 31-year-old pushed Novak Djokovic to three sets before losing at the London Olympics and in July he reached the final at Newport, Rhode Island, where he lost to American John Isner.
American James Blake, who has twice reached the quarter-finals at the U.S. Open, has also been given a wildcard.
Two-time NCAA champion Steve Johnson of the U.S. and Frenchman Guillaume Rufin also earned wild card berths into the main draw for the open which starts at the end of the month.
It is the final gram slam tournament of the year.
