US Open Lucky Loser Arthur Gea Replaces Injured Casper Ruud in Main Draw

Arthur Gea entered the US Open main draw after 2022 runner-up Casper Ruud withdrew, securing a match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

The US Open lucky loser sign-in deadline passed at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, locking in the names of nine women and five men who lost in the final round of qualifying. At 10:52 a.m., just eight minutes before the start of play, 2022 runner-up Casper Ruud withdrew due to injury. Referee Jake Garner subsequently awarded Ruud’s slot to Arthur Gea, who now faces Juan Manuel Cerundolo. While Gea secured his spot, Yunchaokete Bu made history on Wednesday by defeating No. 12 seed Rafael Jodar in straight sets, becoming the first lucky loser in the open era to beat a top-15 seed at Flushing Meadows.

Entry into the main draw provides a guaranteed $140,000 paycheck, a sum that would nearly double the career earnings of 18-year-old Vendula Valdmannova. Valdmannova, the 2025 Wimbledon junior doubles champion, entered the week ranked No. 162 and occupied the third position on the women's priority list. Although she remained on-site through rain delays into Wednesday, she did not receive a call-up. Darja Semenistaja, who practiced with Valdmannova on Monday, was the lone woman to advance into the main draw via the lucky loser process this year, marking her second consecutive major appearance as a replacement.

Random Draws and Selection Protocols

The selection process at Grand Slams involves the 16 men and 16 women who lose in the final qualifying round. The four highest-ranked losers in each draw are placed into a random drawing—conducted with poker chips at the US Open—to determine the first four spots on the list. The remaining players are then ordered by their current rankings. Players must sign in daily no later than 30 minutes before the first scheduled match. Jacob Fearnley and Shintaro Mochizuki benefited from this system early, earning main draw slots before qualifying had even concluded due to two prior withdrawals.

Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, visited the referee’s office with her father following the 10:30 a.m. alarm to inquire about her seventh-place standing on the list. Tournament officials confirmed to her that players who fail to sign in on a specific day can still sign in the following day, potentially altering the priority order. Only the top eight players who sign in daily receive full main draw privileges, including reserved practice court times, extended hotel stays, a daily per diem, and access to the players-only hair and nail salon. Valdmannova noted the perks also included Uber and American Express gift cards.

Historical Performance of Lucky Losers

During the Open era, 12 men and seven women have reached the round of 16 at majors as lucky losers. Eva Lys achieved this at the Australian Open last year; after receiving a 10-minute notice following Anna Kalinskaya’s withdrawal, Lys defeated Kimberly Birrell and advanced to the fourth round. More recently, Jesper de Jong reached the third round of the French Open by defeating three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka and No. 13 seed Karen Khachanov before losing to Alexander Zverev. While no lucky loser has reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal, Donna Vekic won a tour-level title at the Queen's Club in June after entering the draw through this method.

The Limbo of On-Site Waiting

Players on the lucky loser list must remain at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, ready to play on any court at a moment's notice. Valdmannova described the experience as an understudy role, maintaining a full match warmup in the gym and keeping her phone nearby even during practice sessions. Joanna Garland, who held the 11th position on the women’s list, was the only player to inform officials she would not participate in the waiting process. For those who stay, the tournament provides constant communication between Dr. Melissa Leber, the director of player medical services, and the referee's office to identify vacancies as soon as players report injuries.