Laura Robson to miss Australian Open

Laura Robson will not play at the Australian Open while Kyle Edmund has missed out on direct entry for the new season's first Grand Slam next month.

Robson could have used her protected ranking of 58 - the place she occupied before the wrist problems that derailed her career at the start of 2014 and from which she is still working her way back.

Robson is targeting Indian Wells in March for her return to top-level tennis.

The 21-year-old made a belated return last summer but played in only eight tournaments, winning three matches, and is currently ranked 555th.

She has not played since September, with a series of niggles prompting her to bring her comeback season to a premature end.

Because she used her protected ranking to enter the US Open, she only has the option of using it for one more Grand Slam.

Robson, who reached a high of 27 in the rankings in 2013, is now likely to return at smaller events on the second-tier ITF circuit.

Edmund had looked to have done enough to gain direct entry into a Slam for the first time following his victory in a Challenger tournament in Buenos Aires last month, which earned him a Davis Cup debut for Great Britain in the final.

But, because five male players have used protected rankings, Edmund's ranking of 102 puts him three spots out.

Likely withdrawals mean the 20-year-old still has a good chance of making it without having to go through qualifying.

Britain has four players who have secured direct entry for the tournament, which starts on January 18 - Andy Murray, Aljaz Bedene, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson.