Rafael Nadal has been included on the entry list for the Australian Open 2024.

Posted 7 months ago

Two-time champion Rafael Nadal has been named in the draw of the Australian Open 2024, having recently confirmed he will play at the warmup Brisbane International after a long injury lay-off.

Showstopper Nick Kyrgios and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu were notable absentees from the 2024 Australian Open entry list.

Australian Kyrgios, the one-time world number 13, had knee surgery in January and then aborted plans to return at Wimbledon after tearing a ligament in his wrist.

While Kyrgios' name was a glaring omission, two-time Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal was included on the men's list with a protected ranking of No.9.

A protected or special ranking is often used for players coming back from a long-term injury and is based on a player's average ranking in the first three months of their injury.

Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic was named in the women's main draw with a special ranking of No.33, while two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka also received a special ranking of No.46.

Nadal was one of five players in the men's draw to receive a protected ranking, joining Marin Cilic (21), Denis Shapovalov (27), Milos Raonic (33) and Reilly Opelka (33).

The other players in the women's draw to receive a special ranking are Jennifer Brady (14) and Angelique Kerber (31).

Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic is the top-ranked male player while Poland's Iga Swiatek is the top-ranked women's player, with last year's champion Aryna Sabalenka in the No.2 spot.

The 2024 Australian Open will get underway on Sunday, January 14 and will wrap up with the men's singles final on the night of Sunday, January 28.