Emma Raducanu confirms intention to play the 2024 Australian Open
Emma Raducanu has officially entered the 2024 Australian Open, but the former US Open champion may need to qualify to play in the tournament.
Raducanu has been out of action since April after undergoing surgery on both wrists and left ankle, forcing him to miss Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.
opa. 3/3❤️🩹 🙂 pic.twitter.com/YbXQS5PZtX
– Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) 15. May 2023
Raducanu, 21, played only 10 games all year and had his best performance at Indian Wells, reaching the fourth round.
Her last match before surgery was not very successful, with only a three-point win against Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart.
Since the surgery, Raducanu has kept fans updated on his recovery progress on social media, and now appears to be aiming for an official return.
another week closer 🙏 #progress pic.twitter.com/bDYLe8CQDB
– Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) 2 October 2023
Raducanu was included in the Australian Open’s official entry list released yesterday, with a protected ranking of 103rd.
Although there are 104 direct participants in the Grand Slam tournament, many players use protected rankings, so Raducanu must participate in the qualifiers at this time.
There is still a chance that Raducanu will qualify directly for his first major in 2024, but his current jersey number 296 may require four deductions or receive a wild card to do so .
It is also unclear whether the Briton will take part in the pre-major warm-up matches in Melbourne.
The main tournament for the 2024 Australian Open begins on Sunday 14th January, with the tournament extending to 15 days for the first time ever.
In the baseline…
Fans will be happy to see Raducanu return to the list where he played his best tennis ever, especially the Grand Slam list. Raducanu is one of the exciting returning female athletes with a protected ranking, along with Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Jennifer Brady and Amanda Anisimova.
Read more: What is Protected Ranking? How can it help Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open?
