Emma Raducanu: Brit handed Indian Wells wild card, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki also enter main draw

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has been handed a main draw wild card to compete at Indian Wells next week.

The Brit recently returned from an eight-month injury absence and must work her way back up the rankings from her current position of No. 252.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, former world No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Plizkova and 2021 champion Paula Badosa were also given wild cards.

Raducanu has struggled for form since returning to competitive action in January, but will compete in both legs of the ‘Sunshine Swing’ after

She reached the second round of the Australian Open after winning her opener against Shelby Rogers before falling to Yafan Wang.

“I was struggling with everything – serve, return, forehand, backhand. I felt like I never really got into it,” Raducanu said.

“It was a combination of things. It was the first day match I have played in a year. That is different. I need to practise training outside a bit more. The lights, conditions, shadows, it is really hard to see the ball, I found towards the end.”

The 2021 US Open winner’s best showing at Indian Wells was a run to the last 16 last year.

In the men’s draw, Fabio Fognini, Brandon Nakashima, Jakub Mensik, Patrick Kypson and Aleksander Kovacevic were wild card recipients.

Indian Wells runs from March 6 to March 17 in California before the tour heads to Miami from March 19-31.

The ATP and WTA 1000 event is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments outside the four Grand Slams.

The 2023 champions were Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles and Elena Rybakina in the women’s singles.