From Goran Ivanisevic to Kim Clijsters, there have been some fairytale wildcard stories over the years. These players have made the most of their good fortune, and gone on to hit the jackpot. 

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Five wildcards who hit the jackpot!

Wildcards are players who are offered special entry into tournaments, usually at the discretion of the tournament organizers. They are given to players who do not meet the qualifying requirements for these events, but are considered worthy of participating due to various reasons.

A wildcard may be awarded to a senior pro who has fallen down the rankings, perhaps due to a lengthy injury absence, maternity leave, doping suspension or some other reasons, or given to a budding talent trying to find his or her way in the game.

Because they are ranked a lot lower than other entrants, wildcards are generally not expected to win tournaments, but there have been a few instances where these special players have gone on to stun the world.

Here’s a look at five wild cards who have gone on to win!

 

Jonathan Marray and Friedriek Nielsen (Wimbledon men’s doubles 2012)

A lot of tennis fans still have memories of Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph in 2013, which ended Great Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion at the All England Club, but not many remember that a year earlier, Jonathan Marray (note, Marray, and not Murray) had terminated another long British drought.

Marray joined forces with Denmark’s Frederik Nielson to win the men’s doubles title in 2012, with the Brit becoming the first man from his country to enjoy doubles success at the tournament since Patrick Hughes and Raymond Tuckey triumphed in 1936, 76 years earlier.

Prior to Wimbledon 2012, Marray and Nielsen had played just three tournaments together, and were not ranked high enough to get into the draw. They had their request for a wild card granted by the organizers, and they absolutely justified the decision of the All England Club to grant their request by going all the way to win the title.

“What a great honour,” said Marray, who had never gone beyond the third round in ten previous Wimbledon doubles campaigns. “I just wanted to cherish every moment. Thanks to Freddie. It was meant to be.”

For Nielson, he was able to complete some unfinished business from the 1950s. His grandfather Kurt made the Wimbledon men’s singles finals in 1953 and 1955, but lost on both occasions.

“It’s insane,” said the Dane. “If you had told me three weeks ago I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever experienced in tennis.

 

Thiago Seyboth Wild (Santiago 2020)

Rising star, Thiago Seyboth Wild had only won two tour-level matches before the 2020 Chile Open, but the Brazilian produced a stunning week in Santiago to claim his maiden ATP title in just his sixth tournament.

The 2018 US Open junior champion was ranked way down at 182nd in the world heading into the tournament, and needed a wildcard to feature, but the talented teenager blasted his way through the draw, outlasting Casper Ruud in a three-set final to win his maiden title.

“It’s an incredible achievement. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about,” Seyboth Wild said. “I need to just take the best from the week and keep on going for the rest of the season”.

The 19-year-old became the youngest Brazilian to win a tour-level title, and jumped to a career-high 113 in the world as a result.

 

Bianca Andreescu (Indian Wells 2019)

Bianca Andreescu’s stunning 2019 included a remarkable triumph at Indian Wells, where she picked up her first WTA title. Andreescu took out seasoned WTA campaigners like Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber en route the title, as she became the first ever wildcard to win the tournament.

“It’s been a crazy ride… Truly a Cinderella story”, Andreescu submitted at the end of the tournament.

The talented Canadian was ranked way down at 152nd at the start of last season, but she quickly signaled her intentions by reaching her first WTA final in Auckland in the first week of the year. We all took note of her talents, but no one would have predicted the incredible successes she would go on to enjoy. Apart from Indian Wells, she was also champion in Toronto and the US Open, and was up to No. 5 at the end of a brilliant season.

 

Kim Clijsters (US Open 2009)

In one of the most amazing fairytale stories in tennis history, Kim Clijsters became the first wild card to win a women’s singles Grand Slam title following her incredible US Open triumph in 2009. The Belgian was playing just her third tournament since coming out of retirement, but she launched a stunning run in Flushing Meadows, beating both Williams sisters, and Caroline Wozniacki in the final to claim her second Grand Slam title.

Clijsters won her first major at the US Open in 2005, but retired from the sport in 2007. The Belgian had her first daughter during that retirement, but she was back on the tour again in the fall of 2009. She needed just a couple of sighters in Cincinnati and Montreal before going on to put together a historic run at Flushing Meadows, where she also became the first mother to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1980.

“This has been so exciting for me,” said Clijsters. “This was not really our plan”.

“I just wanted to start three tournaments just to get back into the rhythm of playing tennis and get used to the surroundings. So I have to thank the USTA for giving me the wild card to come back here.”

Clijsters added two more majors to her collection in a very successful comeback before retiring for a second time in 2012.

Over seven years later, she has come out of retirement for a again, making her comeback in Dubai in February 2020.

Goran Ivanisevic (Wimbledon 2001)

In one of the most iconic triumphs in the sports history, Goran Ivanisevic finally claimed his first Wimbledon title with a five-set victory over Pat Rafter on a fateful “People Monday” on Centre Court in 2001.

Ivanisevic had been to three previous finals- 1992, 1994 and 1998- but they had all ended in heartbreak. By 2001, his chances of winning a major were thought to be over, with a shoulder injury bothering him in the latter stages of his career. He was ranked well outside the top 100 in the lead up to Wimbledon 2001, but was granted a wildcard given his history at the tournament.

Ivanisevic arrived Wimbledon having not made a major quarter final since his runner-up finish at Roland Garros in 1998, while he hadn’t played a Grand Slam main draw since the US Open in 2000.

However, the Croatian went berserk at the All England Club, defeating Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Tim Henman to set up a championship match against Patrick Rafter. Rain pushed the final to Monday, and in front of a raucous crowd, Ivanisevic held his nerve to come through an absorbing five-set contest against Rafter, winning 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7.

“I don’t know if someone is going to wake me up and tell me I haven’t won again,” said an emotional Ivanisevic afterwards.

“This was my dream all my life. I came here and nobody thought about me, but here I am holding the trophy.”

 

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