Emma Raducanu at the mercy of a wildcard for the 2024 Australian Open as her protected ranking also falls out of the Top-100

Raducanu might appear in the Brisbane Open ahead of the 2024 Australian Open.

Emma Raducanu at the mercy of a wildcard for the 2024 Australian Open as her protected ranking also falls out of the Top-100

Emma Raducanu (Source: Imago)

Emma Raducanu has confirmed she will be making her much-awaited comeback at the 2024 Australian Open. However, it is far from certain yet whether she will be able to play directly in the main draw. The Brit has not played a single match in the last eight months and although she has a protected ranking of 103, she might need a wildcard for direct entry into the main draw.

Her current listing is 296 but the 2021 US Open winner has a protected ranking of 103, as mentioned earlier, due to her injury. However, that too might not be enough for her to get a direct entry into the main draw because eight other players are in a similar situation but are ahead of her currently.

Thus, to play in the main events directly, Raducanu will either need a wildcard or hope that enough of those eight players drop out due to injuries. Otherwise, she might have to play in the qualifiers. 

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Raducanu is currently busy fulfilling a sponsor commitment in Hong Kong alongside her regular practice. She has been training at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, where the Lawn Tennis Association staff helped her get back in shape. 

The 21-year-old is still pushing to play at least one competition ahead of the 2024 Australian Open to be match-fit. Auckland, where she played last year, and the Brisbane International are two viable options that Raducanu might be picking. Two other players – Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka, will also be making their respective comebacks at the 2024 Brisbane International. 

Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Macau Tennis Masters 

Raducanu pushed her date for a comeback several times. She was initially supposed to make a comeback this fall, but a wrist injury did not allow her to do so. More recently, she wanted to make her comeback in the inaugural season of the Macau Tennis Masters, but the organizers wanted her to make a commitment, which she was unable to. Thus, Raducanu had to pull out of it once again. 

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (Source: Sky Sports)

Ever since winning the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu has not been in a state both mentally and physically. The pressure of expectations took a toll on her and a recurring wrist issue in early 2023 forced her to sit out almost the entire season. She had a procedure on both hands and an ankle surgery, following which she is now ready for her comeback. 

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