Australian Open 2024 draw: Emma Raducanu plays against Shelby Rogers, Andy Murray meets Tomas Martin Etcheverry

• By Jonathan Jurejko
• ` Sport at Melbourne Park

January 11, 2024, 02:48 GMT

Updated 10 minutes ago

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Emma Raducanu made her comeback at the Auckland Classic last week, defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse before losing to Elina Svitolina

Dates: 14th – 28th January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Tennis Breakfast commentary daily from 07:00 GMT on Radio 5 Sports Extra and ` Sounds, with selected live text commentary and match reports on the ` Sport website and app.

Emma Raducanu will face American Shelby Rogers when she makes her Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open after an eight-month injury layoff.

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

Boulter starts against the Chinese Yuan Yue, in the second round he faces number 12 seed Zheng Qinwen.

Five-time finalist Andy Murray plays against 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the 2024 season, begins on Sunday at Melbourne Park.

Raducanu begins rematch at US Open

Former British number one Raducanu made her competitive comeback at the Auckland Classic last week and will return to Grand Slam action in a draw of particular significance.

In the extraordinary US Open title triumph that shocked the world in 2021, Raducanu won 11 games in a row, beat Rogers and reached the quarterfinals in New York.

After her long absence, Raducanu plays at Melbourne Park under an injury-protected number 103 in the world rankings.

Rogers, ranked No. 30 last year, is also playing under a protected ranking after missing the second half of last season with an abdominal injury.

The winner will face China's Wang Yafan or Romania's Sorana Cirstea, seeded number 22, in the second round.

Raducanu and 57th-ranked Boulter, who is looking to build on the best season of his career in 2023, are among the three Brits with a direct entry into women's singles.

Jodie Burrage makes her debut in the main draw of the Australian Open and meets German world number 81 Tamara Korspatsch.

Who are the other Brits playing against?

Murray, 36, was the only British player to face a seeded opponent in Thursday's draw at Melbourne Park.

Cameron Norrie is Britain's highest ranked player, ranked 19th. He faces Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas in one part of the draw that looks quite favorable.

Dan Evans continues his return from a calf injury by playing Italy's world number 46 Lorenzo Sonego and could face second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the next round.

Looking to build on an encouraging end to the 2023 season, Jack Draper will face 60th-ranked American Marcos Giron, who has never progressed past the first round in Melbourne.

Three Brits – Harriet Dart, Francesca Jones and Oliver Crawford, a US-born player who recently switched allegiances – could still join them in the main draw if they get through qualification.

What other notable draws were there?

Defending champion Djokovic, seeking a record-equalling 11th title and 25th major overall, starts against a qualifier or lucky loser.

Spaniard Alcaraz missed last year's event due to a hamstring injury and will face French veteran Richard Gasquet again in the first round.

In a women's draw full of remarkable duels, top seed Iga Swiatek starts against 2020 winner Sofia Kenin.

If Swiatek passes that test, she will face two-time world champion Angelique Kerber – who is making a comeback after giving birth to her child last year – or 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins in the second round.

Japan's Naomi Osaka has also returned from maternity leave and secured French No. 16 Caroline Garcia, while Kazakhstan's third seed Elena Rybakina takes on former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka starts against a qualifier, with US Open champion Coco Gauff – who could face the Belarusian in the semi-finals – facing Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Elsewhere in the men's draw, last year's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas was given a tough task against injury-plagued former semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev, drawn in the same half as Alcaraz, starts against a qualifier, while Australian number one Alex de Minaur faces 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic.