Caroline Wozniacki, Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka won't need wildcards for 2025 Australian Open after mammoth ranking rises

After a year spent with wildcards and qualifying being a leading storyline with returnees including Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, Emma Raducanu and Caroline Wozniacki, it won't be an issue going into the 2025 Australian Open.

All four endured mammoth ranking rises which see them all placed in the Main Draw Entry List confirmed on Friday morning. Naomi Osaka rose to World No.60 in her first year back.

While Amanda Anisimova after a superb middle part of the season which saw the American rise up after reaching the final of the Canadian Open in particular sits in the top 40. Osaka, Anisimova and Emma Raducanu all will play in Auckland to start the year off.

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Raducanu also received heavy criticism for deciding not to play qualifying for tournaments and only relied on wildcards. But is now up to World No.59 so for a Grand Slam at the very least is safe when it comes to entry. She went up 230 spots in a single season.

Caroline Wozniacki though caused the most controversy with the former Australian Open champion albeit through her Dad complaining about feeling disrespected after not receiving a Roland Garros wildcard. Albeit none were on offer to the top names anyway. She got one for Wimbledon, but it was the US Open she made her mark again reaching the Last 16. She rose to World No.72 going up nearly 200 spots.

Caroline Wozniacki to return in 2025 after retirement doubts.

Some murmerings on social media quipped that with her not entering Auckland that she may retire. One of her habits has been that she has barely played in the latter half of both seasons she has been back on the tour with the Asian and Middle East swings at either end snubbed.

Raducanu for instance will head to Australia early in order to get ready. What route Wozniacki takes is an interesting one as to whether she comes out all guns blazing or a semi role she has taken in the past few years.

But this next season only sees Belinda Bencic who is already back playing as a well known readdition to the fold. She has reached a semi-final in a Challenger this week and is getting match practice in ahead of the Australian Open.

So this season will be very much a big one for those names who returned this time last year. Who perhaps follows Angelique Kerber into retirement after only a few months back? Time will tell.