Emma Raducanu straight into 2024 Australian Open main draw after Lauren Davis withdraws with shoulder injury
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Updated 03/01/2024 at 09:10 GMT
Emma Raducanu can now look forward to the main draw of the Australian Open, which takes place on January 11. The 21-year-old endured a hugely frustrating 2023, spending eight months on the sidelines, and has subsequently slumped down to 301st in the WTA rankings. However, Raducanu has been given dispensation to enter the tournament with her protected pre-injury ranking of 103.
Raducanu: My biggest goal in 2024 is being injury free
Emma Raducanu will go straight into the Australian Open main draw after American Lauren Davis pulled out with a shoulder injury.
Davis' pain is Raducanu's gain, with the Brit now guaranteed a first-round place for the first Grand Slam of 2024.
Davis is the latest WTA player to withdraw from the Australian Open after Karolina Muchova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally all pulled out.
Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova confirmed she will take a break of tennis after announcing her pregnancy.
The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on January 14 and Raducanu will find out her first opponent when the draw is made on January 11.
It is the latest boost for the 21-year-old after she made a winning return to the court with a 6-3 4-6 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the ASB Classic in Auckland.
This was her first match following an eight-month absence after undergoing operations on her wrist and ankle in May.
Speaking on court following the victory, she said: "Thank you to everyone coming out and staying late, I really appreciate the support.
"It was a match with ups and downs and it's always difficult playing a friend.
"It's difficult after having such a long hiatus but I'm grateful to be healthy, I'm grateful to be able to move my body and not be bedridden or in a wheelchair so it's pretty amazing to be out here and playing.
"I'm just really happy to be back on the tour and can't wait to start the season and hopefully carry on injury-free and healthy."
Raducanu has not featured at a Grand Slam since taking part in the 2023 Australian Open, where she suffered a second-round defeat to Coco Gauff.
Her immediate focus is on a second-round match in Auckland, as she prepares to take on Elina Svitolina from 05:30 UK time on Thursday.
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