Raducanu Into Australian Open Main Draw After Davis Withdrawal 

Emma Raducanu of Britain hits a return during her singles match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP)
Emma Raducanu of Britain hits a return during her singles match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP)
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Raducanu Into Australian Open Main Draw After Davis Withdrawal 

Emma Raducanu of Britain hits a return during her singles match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP)
Emma Raducanu of Britain hits a return during her singles match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP)

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu moved into the main draw of the Australian Open after American Lauren Davis pulled out of the year's first Grand Slam with a shoulder injury, organizers said on Wednesday.

Raducanu, who beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Auckland Classic on Tuesday in her return to action following wrist and ankle surgeries, has slipped to number 301 in the world and her protected ranking was not good enough for direct entry to the Melbourne Park Grand Slam.

The 21-year-old Briton was also overlooked for a wildcard and was set to take a similar path as her 2021 Flushing Meadows run when she became the first player in the Open Era to win a major after starting out in the qualifying rounds.

However, the exit of Davis, which followed withdrawals by Karolina Muchova, Petra Kvitova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally, opened up a spot for Raducanu in the main draw of the Jan. 14-28 major.



FIFA Announces Details to Apply for World Cup Tickets

 13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
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FIFA Announces Details to Apply for World Cup Tickets

 13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)

Applications for tickets for the 2026 World Cup open Sept. 10, FIFA said Tuesday.

The next edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA said that due to anticipated high demand tickets would be released in phases.

It did not say if it would use dynamic pricing, as was the case for the Club World Cup, which saw ticket prices fluctuate wildly.

"We’re looking forward to welcoming the world back to North America, as Canada, Mexico and the United States host what will be the biggest and greatest sporting event ever," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "We encourage fans everywhere to get ready to secure their place — these will be the most coveted seats in world sport."