In the lead-up to the 2024 Australian Open, Nick Kyrgios and Emma Raducanu’s names were notably missing from the entry list.
Kyrgios, recovering from knee and wrist injuries, was expected to make a return, potentially via wildcard. Similarly, Raducanu, the former US Open champion, had been out of action due to wrist and ankle surgeries. With a protected ranking of 103, Raducanu didn’t secure automatic entry, leaving her to compete through qualifiers or potentially earn a wildcard spot.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are poised for their Grand Slam comebacks after registering for the lead-up Brisbane International. Nadal, with a protected ranking of nine, and Osaka, returning from maternity leave with a special ranking of 46, are set to rejoin the competitive circuit after extended breaks due to injuries and personal reasons.
The Australian Open, scheduled from January 14-28, awaits defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively.
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