How do tennis players get into Grand Slam tournaments?

The four Grand Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open – are the biggest tennis tournaments in the world. 

They have the most ranking points, the highest prize money, and are the most prestigious titles on offer to any tennis player. These are the big four that players dream of competing in as they rise through the ranks. 

But how do the tournaments decide which players get to compete in the Grand Slams? 

There are three ways players can qualify for Grand Slam tournaments: 

• Direct entry on WTA / ATP ranking
• Through qualifying rounds
• Receiving a wild card 

Grand Slam direct entry 

The highest-ranked tennis players in the world will automatically get main draw entry into Grand Slam tournaments. 

Players will need to be ranked higher than the tournament cut-off, which is usually around world No.104. This can change depending on the number of players in that group who have withdrawn or are unable to play in that event. 

The top 32 ranked players in the competition will also receive a seeding for the draw. This means they avoid other high-ranked players in the early rounds. 

Learn more about Wimbledon seedings 

Grand Slam qualification  

The next way to gain main draw entry into a Grand Slam tournament is by coming through the qualifying rounds. 

Players ranked just outside the main draw cut-off will be able to enter qualifying. This takes place the week before the main draw begins. 

Qualifying works as a straight knockout tournament where players have to win three rounds in order to seal a place in the main draw. 

Prize money is still on offer for players in qualifying. At Wimbledon in 2026, a player who loses in the first round of qualifying earns £20,000. 

Learn more about Grand Slam ranking points

Grand Slam wild cards 

Each Grand Slam also has a select number of wild card places for players who don’t get direct entry based on their ranking. 

There are wild cards available for places for the main draw and also qualifying entries. 

Wild cards are usually used for players from the host nation, former champions, or other exceptional circumstances. 

Most wild cards are allocated by the tournament organisers and/or the host federation. For Wimbledon, wild cards are decided by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, with recommendations from the LTA. 

Tennis Australia chooses the wild cards for the Australian Open, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) at Roland Garros and the USTA for the US Open. 

These three Grand Slams also have an agreement to swap wild cards between them. E.g., the USTA and FFT can have one wild card spot at each other’s event. 

The LTA and USTA also hold play-off tournaments in advance of Wimbledon and the US Open for valuable wild card spots in qualifying. 

Winners of the 18U Lexus Junior National Championships also get wild card opportunities at Wimbledon through the LTA.