Like Kyrgios, Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Belinda Bencic is also set to use her protected ranking to enter the Australian Open main draw after missing all of this year’s Grand Slams following the birth of her daughter Bella in April.
British number one Draper has never gone beyond the the second round at the Australian Open but will be hoping to build further momentum after reaching the semi-finals of the US Open in September.
Kartal, 23, will make her main draw debut in Melbourne, while Burrage, 25, had a first-round exit in 2024.
Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, who top the men’s and women’s rankings, are both on the main draw list, while 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who is targeting a record 11th Australian Open crown, is also confirmed for the event.
Former world number four Kei Nishikori is another player using his protected ranking to return to the Australian Open for the first time since 2021.
