Emma Raducanu is all set to face American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open 2024 draw.

Tennis Australian Open 2024

Posted 6 months ago

Emma Raducanu is all set to face American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open 2024 draw.

Emma Raducanu will return to Grand Slam tennis against Shelby Rogers in the first round of the Australian Open 2024 while Andy Murray will kick off his 16th tournament against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who's ranked 30th and could face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.

Raducanu has been granted a place in the main draw due to her protected ranking after missing eight months of last season following wrist and ankle surgeries and will meet an opponent in Rogers who she thrashed on her way to winning the US Open in 2021.

Raducanu sparked fears that she could miss the Australian Open after pulling out of a charity match against Naomi Osaka on Tuesday before skipping another exhibition at the Kooyong Classic but practised on Thursday at Melbourne Park.

Meanwhile, the returning Naomi Osaka will face a tough test on her grand slam return after being drawn against Caroline Garcia - the former WTA Finals champion and 16th seed.

Osaka is playing her first grand slam since having a baby and her first-round match was one of several headline opening matches in the women’s singles.

In the men’s draw, Murray was the only British player to draw a seed and will take on the Argentine Etcheverry and the 36-year-old would expect to play defending champion Djokovic in the third round if he makes it that far.

Djokovic, who will open against a qualifier, is targetting an 11th Australian Open title this month while Carlos Alcaraz could meet Dan Evans in the second round if the Brit makes his way past Lorenzo Sonego.

Cameron Norrie, the only British seed, faces Juan Pablo Varillas, with Jack Draper meeting Marcos Giron.