Emma Raducanu will play 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open after her wildcard entry was upgraded to the main draw.

The Abu Dhabi Open is live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, with Raducanu's match against Vondrousova scheduled for 1pm (UK & Ireland), Tuesday.

Raducanu had initially been due to play in the qualifying rounds of a tournament this weekend for the first time since her triumph at the US Open in 2021, but the 22-year-old was instead moved up to the main draw on Saturday where she was drawn against world No 36 and fellow wildcard Vondrousova.

Raducanu famously beat Vondrousova when an 18-year-old wildcard on her full Wimbledon debut in 2021, two years before the Czech player became the first unseeded player to win the women's singles at the All England Club.

Vondrousova beat Raducanu in 2022 in the Billie Jean King Cup in their only other meeting.

Raducanu, when also on a wildcard, reached last year's second round at the tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Having bypassed the two-round qualifying games, Raducanu will now feature in her third tournament of the year a week after losing to world No 101 Cristina Bucsa in the first round of the Singapore Open.

Earlier in the month Raducanu had reached the third round of the Australian Open before a bruising 6-1 6-0 defeat to world No 2 Iga Swiatek.

Sky Sports' Laura Robson believes "it's all positive" in terms of Raducanu's start to the year and her eagerness to play on tour.

"I love the fact that she went to Singapore in the first place, to get some more matches in," Robson said at the launch of Sky Sports' tennis coverage of the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open in 2025.

"Obviously that didn't go as well as she'd have hoped, but then to play the week after is exactly what she's been trying to do for the last year.

"It's a great decision and hopefully she'll be able to build on that - and by the time [WTA 1000 events] Indian Wells and Miami come around [in March], she's got a good base to work with.

"Even in Australia, you could tell she was on the right path and starting to play some good tennis, but just wasn't quite match sharp in the key moments."

As for Raducanu's search for a new coach, after Nick Cavaday ended their partnership because of health issues in January, Robson added: "I don't think she's going to rush into it. And I don't think you want her to rush into it.

"It has got to be the right person because I know if she goes for someone and then ends up changing them again quickly, [to reporters] you'd all go nuts.

"It's more important that she finds the right fit for her."

Raducanu was joined in the main draw by 23-year-old compatriot Sonay Kartal but, after coming through qualifying in Abu Dhabi, the British No 3 was knocked out in the first round on Monday, beaten 3-6 6-4 6-4 by American Katie Volynets.

Volynets had already dashed another Brit Heather Watson's hopes of making the main draw, beating Watson 6-4 6-3 in their first-round qualifying clash.

The tournament in Abu Dhabi also features defending champion Elena Rybakina, the world No 5, and semi-finalist in Melbourne Paula Badosa. Both have byes to round two, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.