Emma Raducanu will not have to qualify for Australian Open after moving into main draw
Emma Raducanu moved into the main draw of the Australian Open after American Lauren Davis pulled out of the year’s first Grand Slam with a shoulder injury, organisers said on Wednesday.
Raducanu, who beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday in her return to action following wrist and ankle surgeries, has slipped to No 301 in the world and her protected ranking was not good enough for direct entry to the year’s opening Grand Slam in Melbourne.
The 21-year-old Briton was also overlooked for a wildcard and was set to take a similar path as her 2021 Flushing Meadows run when she became the first player in the Open Era to win a major after starting out in the qualifying rounds.
However, the exit of Davis, which followed withdrawals by Karolina Muchova, Petra Kvitova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally, opened up a spot for Raducanu in the main draw.
The Australian Open starts on January 14.
Knowing she no longer has to enter qualifying next week for the Melbourne Park event, Raducanu now focuses on her last-16 tie in Auckland against second seed Elina Svitolina on Thursday, which is live on Sky Sports Main Event from 5.30am.
More to follow…
Raducanu vs Svitolina will be on Sky Sports Main Event on Thursday morning from 5.30am. Stream tennis on Sky Sports without a contract through NOW
