Emma Raducanu on the brink of qualifying for Australian Open – but she could still miss out

Emma Raducanu’s rating prevented her from making the cut,

which cost her an automatic spot in the Australian Open draw.

However, she is now in position to take one of the final spots available at the first Grand Slam of 2024.

In the opening round of the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday,

Raducanu bravely defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three sets,

capping her much-anticipated comeback from injury.

The 2021 US Open champion had to have surgery on both wrists and

her ankle during her eight-month absence from the game.

The Romanian qualifier mounted a comeback, but the former British number one,

who was playing her first match since April after surgeries on both wrists and one ankle,

held her own and won 6-3 4-6 7-5.

Although Raudcanu’s comeback was encouraging, nothing

not even winning the Aukland tournament—will change her chances of making the Australian Open draw.

Due to her extended absence from the tour, Raducanu has a protected ranking of 103,

however that is insufficient to grant her straight entrance into the Australian Open draw.

Although the 21-year-old is one of the most well-known female athletes in

the sport and a past Grand Slam champion,

most wild cards are awarded to domestic players.

Raducanu will have to go through qualifying,

the same route by which she astonishingly won the US Open in 2021,

if she is not awarded a wild card and there are not enough withdrawals

from higher-ranked players to guarantee her spot.

Raducanu may find it appealing to compete in qualification since

it would allow her to face opponents with somewhat lesser skill levels,

but it’s possible that she’ll end up in the Australian Open draw after all.

Due to injuries, a number of players withdrew from the Melbourne major,

which puts the British player just one slot away from automatic entry into the singles draw.

Due to a reciprocal agreement between the French Tennis Federation and the United States Tennis Federation,

players from France and the USA will receive two of the four wildcards that are still available for the Australian Open.

Former champion Caroline Wozniacki was given one of the wildcards.

Tennis Australia is anticipated to award a wildcard to a player from the Asia-Pacific area,

leaving one more wildcard available, which may go to Raducanu.

While some have proposed Raducanu play three games in qualifying and enter the main draw with experience,

the tournament administrators would likely welcome another withdrawal that would

spare them from having to decide whether or not to allow Raducanu to compete.

She’ll continue to get ready for the Australian Open with a difficult last-16 matchup against Elina Svitolina,

the second seed.

Raducanu remarked, “It’s challenging after such a long break,

but I’m thankful to be healthy, thankful to be able to move my body and not be bedridden or in a wheelchair.”

“Just being out here and playing is pretty amazing.

I’m really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and hopefully continue healthy and injury-free.”

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