Emma Raducanu faces Shelby Rogers, Andy Murray to play Tomas Martin Etcheverry at 2024 Australian Open

The 21-year-old Briton, who underwent wrist and ankle surgeries in May last year, may face British number one Katie Boulter in the Melbourne third round.

Boulter is set to kick off against China’s Yuan Yue, with 12th seed Zheng Qinwen looming in the second round. Five-time finalist Andy Murray is scheduled to play against 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The Australian Open, marking the first Grand Slam event of the 2024 season, commences at Melbourne Park on Sunday. The tournament has been extended to 15 days to address late-night finishes and concludes with the finals weekend on January 27-28.

Raducanu, a former British number one, returned to competitive play at the Auckland Classic last week and is gearing up for Grand Slam action in a draw with special significance. In her remarkable 2021 US Open title triumph, Raducanu won 11 consecutive games to defeat Rogers and advance to the quarter-finals in New York.

After a prolonged absence, Raducanu is participating at Melbourne Park under an injury-protected ranking of 103rd in the world. Rogers, also competing under an injury-protected ranking, was a consistent presence in the top 50 before missing the latter part of the previous season due to an abdominal injury.

The victor of their encounter will face either China’s Wang Yafan or Romanian 22nd seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round.

Raducanu and the 57th-ranked Boulter, who aims to build on a career-best season in 2023, are among three Britons with direct entry to the women’s singles. Jodie Burrage, making her debut in the Australian Open main draw, is set to challenge German world number 81 Tamara Korspatsch.

Source: BBC Sports