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.



Chelsea Agree Deal for Dortmund's Gittens, Reports Say

Jamie Gittens is set to join Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. LLUIS GENE / AFP/File
Jamie Gittens is set to join Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. LLUIS GENE / AFP/File
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Chelsea Agree Deal for Dortmund's Gittens, Reports Say

Jamie Gittens is set to join Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. LLUIS GENE / AFP/File
Jamie Gittens is set to join Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. LLUIS GENE / AFP/File

Chelsea are set to add England under-21 international winger Jamie Gittens to their forward line after agreeing a deal with Borussia Dortmund, according to reports on Saturday.

Sky Sports said an agreement has been reached between the clubs, who are both competing at the Club World Cup in the United States, reported AFP..

The Blues will reportedly pay up to 65 million euros (£55 million, $76 million) for the 20-year-old, who had been in Chelsea's academy as a youth player.

Gittens eventually moved to Manchester City's academy before signing for Dortmund in 2022.

He made 107 appearances for the German giants, scoring 17 goals, 12 of which came in the Bundesliga and Champions League last season.

Chelsea were in the market to bolster their wide options after refusing the chance to sign Manchester United's Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal after his loan spell at Stamford Bridge.

Mykhailo Mudryk also remains provisionally suspended by the English Football Association after failing a drugs test.

Gittens would be Chelsea's fourth signing of the summer, joining striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo and defender Mamadou Sarr.

Brazilian rising star Estevao Willian, 18, will also join the Premier League giants after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.