Emma Raducanu: How will Brit get into 2024 Australian Open – direct entry, qualifying or wild card?
Emma Raducanu made a winning return at the ASB Classic in Auckland after eight months out injured.
But will Raducanu get a main-draw spot at the first Grand Slam of the season or will she have to come through qualifying? Or might she get a wild card?
Raducanu is not currently in the main draw due to her ranking position.
She is currently ranked at No. 301 in the world, but is able to use her protected ranking to enter the tournament.
A protected ranking is designated to players who are out of action for a long period to enable them to enter tournaments even though they have fallen in the rankings due to their inactivity.
Raducanu’s protected ranking is 103, which is not enough for a main-draw spot.
However, Raducanu is just one more withdrawal away from automatically qualifying for the Grand Slam.
Raducanu started several spots away from automatic entry but moved closer after Karolina Muchova, Caty McNally and Irina-Camelia Begu were all ruled out with injury.
However, there is a chance that won’t happen. If it doesn’t then there are two options for Raducanu.
Two of those will go to players from the USA and France due to reciprocal agreements with the French Tennis Federation and United States Tennis Association, and one usually goes to a player from the Asia-Pacific region.
That would leave just one spot free for another wild card.
The last option for Raducanu will be going through qualifying. As it stands this is the route that Raducanu is on unless there is another withdrawal or she is awarded a wild card.
Qualifying starts on Monday, January 8 and finishes on Thursday, January 11 and Raducanu would need three wins to reach the main draw.
Raducanu memorably came through qualifying to win the US Open in 2021.
Emma Raducanu beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her comeback match in Auckland
Image credit: Getty Images
She said after her winning return in Auckland that she is “grateful to be healthy” after eight months away from the tour.
“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 bedridden or in a wheelchair.
“It’s pretty amazing to just be out here and playing and I’m just really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.”
Raducanu plays Elina Svitolina in the second round in Auckland.
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