Former US Open champions Dominic Thiem and Emma Raducanu are set to lead the qualifying field for the upcoming Australian Open in a bid to rejuvenate their careers following injury setbacks.
Thiem, who broke the Grand Slam dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic in 2020, faced a wrist injury and other fitness issues, plummeting to 352nd in the rankings. Currently ranked 98th, the Austrian aims for direct entry into the main draw but must navigate the qualifiers.
Similarly, Raducanu, the 2021 US Open sensation, missed an Australian Open wildcard and will undertake the qualifying rounds, mirroring her breakthrough at Flushing Meadows.
The 21-year-old Briton, now ranked 299th, battled wrist and ankle surgeries in May but is staging a comeback. Raducanu, just outside the main draw cut-off, will warm up at the Auckland Classic before the Australian Open.
The qualifying tournament is scheduled to commence on January 8, leading up to the main draw from January 14-28. Thiem and Raducanu aim to use this opportunity to regain momentum and showcase their resilience on the Grand Slam stage.
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