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Emma Raducanu will not have to qualify for this month’s Australian Open.
American Lauren Davis’ withdrawal with a shoulder injury means the 21-year-old Briton now has direct entry into the main draw of the Grand Slam event.
Raducanu has a world ranking of 301, but was able to enter with a special ranking of 103 – which reflects her position before missing a minimum of six months through injury.
The Australian Open begins on 14 January in Melbourne.
As well as Davis’ withdrawal, French Open finalist Karolina Muchova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally have pulled out, while two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova withdrew after announcing she is pregnant with her first child.
Raducanu’s most recent Grand Slam appearance was at last year’s Australian Open, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the second round.
The former US Open champion returned to the tour in Auckland this week with a win over Romania’s Elena Gabriela Ruse.
It was her first match since having minor operations on both hands and her left ankle in early May.
Her second round match in Auckland, against the second seed Elina Svitolina, is scheduled to begin at 05:30 GMT on Thursday.
By Russell Fuller
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