Bianca Andreescu and Sloane Stephens know what it feels like to win the US Open.
In October 2026, though, both former champions found themselves celebrating trophies in rather different surroundings.
For Andreescu, it was Rovereto in Italy, where the Canadian won the WTA 125 title and climbed 36 places to No. 132.
For Stephens, it was Edmond, Oklahoma, where victory at the W100 event lifted her 15 places to No. 118 and, more importantly, put her in the lead for something much bigger: a 2027 Australian Open main-draw wildcard.
Neither trophy will sit alongside a Grand Slam in terms of prestige.
Right now, both may be considerably more useful than that comparison suggests.
Andreescu Finds Another Trophy to Hold
Andreescu’s win in Rovereto carried obvious emotional weight.
The 2019 US Open champion has spent enough time away from the winner’s circle to understand that trophies cannot always be judged by the size of the stadium around them.
After her victory, she wrote:
“I knew I had more moments like this in me… I’m beyond humbled by this title and proud of the work and patience it took to get here.”
Andreescu also thanked her team, family and friends for staying with her through what she described as “A LOT,” before making clear just how much the week in Rovereto meant to her.
Even Chris Evert noticed.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion congratulated Andreescu on social media and added: “I know you’ve worked hard for this, keep going.”
That, essentially, is where Andreescu is now.
Not back at the top yet.
But moving again.
Her reward from Rovereto is a 36-place rankings jump to No. 132 and something less measurable: another reminder that the tennis which once made her a Grand Slam champion has not disappeared.
Stephens Has Melbourne in Her Sights
Stephens’ situation comes with a more immediate prize attached.
The 2017 US Open champion won the Edmond Open W100 in Oklahoma, and the ranking points earned there have moved her to the front of the USTA’s Australian Open wildcard race.
The system comes from a reciprocal arrangement between the United States Tennis Association and Tennis Australia.
In simple terms, one American woman can earn a direct main-draw place at the 2027 Australian Open through results during a five-week points race.
Players can count ranking points from a maximum of three tournaments during that period, with events at W35 level and above included.
The window ends on November 2.
After two weeks, Stephens leads.
Behind her sit Elvina Kalieva, Julieta Pareja, Annika Penickova and Connie Ma.
So while Edmond may be a long way removed from Arthur Ashe Stadium, the title could end up sending Stephens directly to Melbourne.
“They Said I Needed Points”
Stephens, now 33, clearly understood the assignment.
After winning in Oklahoma, she posted:
“They said I needed points, so I figured I’d just take the whole lot.”
Her line is spot on because this is exactly what these late-season tournaments represent for players outside the automatic Grand Slam entry positions.
Every round has a practical value.
Every ranking point can change where January begins.
Stephens once climbed as high as world No. 3, won eight WTA titles and reached two Grand Slam finals, beating Madison Keys for the 2017 US Open title before losing the 2018 Roland Garros final to Simona Halep.
Now the immediate target is much more basic.
Get into the Australian Open.
Winning Edmond has put her in pole position to do exactly that.
Two US Open Champions, Two Different Roads Back
There was even a small connection between the two stories.
Andreescu responded to Stephens’ Edmond celebration with trophy and smiling-face emojis.
A few days later, she had another trophy of her own.
Their circumstances are not identical, but there is something fitting about seeing two former US Open champions collecting important late-season titles away from the biggest stages.
Neither woman is pretending these trophies are the US Open.
They do not need to.
At this point in their careers, the more interesting question is where those trophies might take them next.