MELBOURNE: Notable omissions from the 2024 Australian Open entry list included Nick Kyrgios, a prominent figure known for his show-stopping performances, and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Kyrgios underwent knee surgery and faced a setback with a wrist ligament tear, while Raducanu, who claimed the US Open victory at 18, has been recuperating from wrist and ankle surgeries since April.
Despite expectations of Kyrgios’ return in some capacity and hopes for Raducanu’s comeback at the tournament’s start in 2024, both missed automatic entry due to various circumstances. Raducanu, with a protected ranking of 103, needs to navigate qualifying rounds or potentially secure a wildcard, which, although typically reserved for Australians, has been granted to non-Australian players in the past, such as Caroline Wozniacki.
On a positive note, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are poised for their Grand Slam returns, participating in the lead-up Brisbane International after respective hiatuses due to injury and personal reasons.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner from Spain, holds a protected ranking of nine, while Osaka, having dealt with childbirth and mental health challenges, maintains a special ranking of 46. With the Australian Open set from January 14-28, the anticipation lingers, with Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic defending their respective women’s and men’s titles.
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