Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova stumble as Emma Raducanu learns Australian Open fate

Emma Raducanu has been granted a break having been handed entry into the main draw of the Australian Open, while Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova have fallen in warm-up tennis tournaments. Raducanu returned to Australia after a tough 2023 season, but managed a victory in her first match back.

The 2021 US Open winner has dropped in the rankings to World No.301, but fell just short of a main card entry with a protected ranking. Raducanu has reached the round of 16 of the ASB Classic having set-up a clash with No.2 seed Elina Svitolina.

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But in good news for the British star, Raducanu was granted main card entry after American Lauren Davis withdrew from the tournament. Raducanu appears to have returned stronger in 2024 after undergoing surgery on both her wrists and her ankle in 2023.

And Raducanu isn't the only one to return in 2024 in style. Two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka returned to Australia having taken 2023 off after giving birth to her daughter. After more than a year away, Osaka looked in top form against German Tamara Korpatsch in her opening match of the Brisbane International.

However, while pushing the No.16 seed all the way, Osaka fell to Karoline Pliskova in the second round in a close three-set battle. Although Osaka was not deterred with the loss, but pleased with her form having played just her second match in 12 months.

"The week is definitely shorter than I wanted it to be, but overall I think it was a great match," Osaka said. "I feel like I'm pretty good where I am right now. Even the last time I played her, I think I played better today.

"I think I'm pretty good. Like, the court is just really... It's her court, you know what I mean? I guess I'll see what happens in Melbourne." The four-time grand slam champion admitted she could work on converting break points having won just two of 12 in the match. "My break points could have been better," Osaka said.

"But I think other than that, we both played really well. It's kind of tough because she has such a great serve. I'm not really sure if I can be too hard on myself, if that makes sense."

Amanda Anisimova stumbles ahead of Australian Open

Meanwhile, Anisimova was destroyed 6-0, 6-1 to Marie Bouzkova in the second round of the Auckland Tennis Classic in a blow to her Australian Open warm-up. The former World No.21 appeared in good form in the first round having defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets in her first match since May last year.

However, she couldn't find her way into the match against Bouzkova who blasted the American away in a storng display of power-hitting. "I think it couldn't get any better for me," Boukova said. "I think I stayed very solid.

"I tried and Amanda is such a huge hitter so it's not easy to find some winners but I'm glad I could find a few here and there and get the win here today."

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