 "Naomi Osaka's last appearance at the Wimbledon was in 2019. Reuters")
Former US Open and Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka is one of four Grand Slam champions granted a wildcard into the main draw of the women’s singles event in Wimbledon next month.
The 26-year-old former world No 1, who has won the Grand Slam titles in New York and Melbourne twice, will be featuring in the main draw of the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time in five years after becoming a mother.
Also receiving a wildcard entry into the main draw is former Australian Open champion and ex-world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
The All England Club hands wildcards to players who are unable to qualify into the main draw directly on the basis of their ranking.
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Wozniacki, disappointed to miss out on a wildcard at the French Open, told Britain’s PA news agency: “I have so many special memories.
“I won junior Wimbledon back in 2005, so it’s a long time ago. There’s something so special about playing on Wimbledon’s Centre Court that you can’t replicate anywhere else.”
Germany’s Angelique Kerber, the 2018 Wimbledon champion and another former world number one who took time out from tennis to start a family, has also received a wildcard entry into the tournament, which starts on 1 July.
Another wildcard announced Wednesday went to home favourite Emma Raducanu, who made her breakthrough run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021 — shortly before her stunning triumph in winning that year’s US Open as a qualifier.
It will be the first time in two years that Raducanu, 21, has been on the grass courts of Wimbledon following wrist and ankle surgery in 2023.
Last week, Raducanu lost an all-British semi-final at the Nottingham Open to eventual champion Katie Boulter in what was still an encouraging start to her grass-court campaign.
With AFP inputs