Emma Raducanu handed boost in final Australian Open warm-up event
Emma Raducanu has been handed a boost to the start of her 2022 campaign after Iga Swiatek withdrew from WTA Sydney.
The US Open champion opted to delay the start of her season by withdrawing from the Melbourne Summer Set as she recovered from a recent Covid-19 infection.
She was due to get her season underway at the WTA 500 event in Sydney, where was drawn against former French Open champion Swiatek in the first round.
However, following a fine run to the semi-finals in Adelaide, Swiatek has withdrawn from Sydney with a rib injury.
She will still face a tough test, though, with ninth-seed Elena Rybakina her new first round opponent.
The draw is a testament to a loaded field in Sydney, which also features Ashleigh Barty, Garbine Muguruze, and reigning Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Revised main draw at the Sydney Tennis Classic after Iga Swiatek withdrew due to rib injury. pic.twitter.com/6ZTvn38yqr
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 9, 2022
Top seeds Barty and Muguruza have byes into the second round of the tournament, which gets underway on Monday 10 January.
Barty’s side of the draw features Raducanu, Anett Kontaveit, and Ons Jabeur, whwile Muguruza has the likes of Sofia Kenin, Paula Badosa, Barbora Krejcikova, and Belinda Bencic potentially in her path to the final.
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