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Kooyong

Raducanu aims for minor tune-up test at Kooyong

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1 year ago

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Emma Raducanu has been thrown a lifeline in the run-up to Sunday’s Australian Open start, with the Brit offered a spot in the Kooyong exhibition in Melbourne.

The 2021 US Open champion who now stands 301st after eight months of injury inactivity, will get a match at the former home of the Open.

Kooyong matches are often scheduled on an ad-hoc basis, depending on what players training for the Grand Slam wish to make the trip down trendy Toorak road to Kooyong Club for the event which starts on Wednesday.

Raducanu’s Thursday opponent has yet to be determined but is likely to be rising teenager Mirra Andreeva.

Also in the field is fellow Briton Andy Murray, along with ATP No. 4 Jannik Sinner, the world No. 4 who defeated 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic twice in November. 

Also expected: Holger Rune, China’s Zhang Zizhen, American Frances Tiafoe and Australia’s Marc Polmans.

Sinner and Polmans  are due to play on Wednesday, with Murray taking on former US Open winner Marin Cilic, only just back from months of injury. Rune will play Karen Khachanov.

Murray, 11th-ranked Casper Ruud and Canadian veteran Milos Raonic are joined by 2015 Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka and former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in a field boasting a cumulative 154 ATP titles, seven Grand Slam victories and two Olympic gold medals.

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Auckland

Raducanu’s exhibition appearance evaporates

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1 year ago

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January 9, 2024

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Emma Raducanu’s possibilities of making a start at the Australian Open may have taken a late hit as the Brit quit her spot at an ad-hoc exhibition due to have been played at Melbourne Park with Naomi Osaka.

So far, the 2021 US Open champion is still on for an appearance at the Kooyong exhibition, the last chance for a serious hit prior to Sunday’s start  of the major.

The one-off Grand Slam winner will head to Melbourne Park with just two official matches last week in New Zealand making up her return after eight months out injured.

Raducanu claimed that “soreness” would preclude her participation at Melbourne Park hit-out.

Before last week, Raducanu last played in Stuttgart in April before undergoing wrist and ankle procedures.

The No. 299 only gained entry to the Australian Open main draw as five players ahead of her in the queue withdrew.

With her comeback progress on hold, the Brit has made yet another coaching change, bringing back childhood mentor Nick Cavaday for a trial at the Open.

Raducanu later completely abandoned any Grand Slam warmup by also withdrawing from the Kooyong exhibition where she had been due to play on Thursday.

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ATP

Thiem keeps Open hopes high despite Kooyong KO

Published

2 years ago

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January 10, 2023

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Dominic Thiem twice fought back from a break down, but could not get over the line in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s opening match at the Kooyong Classic.

The decades-old warm-up event for the Australian Open will be the venue for a return trip for the one-time No. 3 who is grinding back on the Tour after his June, 2021, wrist injury.

The 2020 Melbourne finalist who won the US Open title nine months later that season, will play another match here on Wednesday, taking on Frances Tiafoe.

Thiem admits he’s an unknown quantity heading to Melbourne Park.

“My wild card is a big honour  and also a big possibility (to do well),” Thiem said. .

“If I have the chance to make some damage we will see if I can make that happen.

“I’m glad I’ve left my injury behind, the body feels good.”

The two-time Roland Garros finalist added: “I’m ready to go at the Grand Slam, but I don’t know how good I am at the moment.

“It’s very difficult to go deep in a Slam, all of the players are on a high level. But I had a good preparation so I should be ready – we’ll see.”

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