NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 01: Laura Robson of Great Britain returns a shot to Elena Vesnina of Russia during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

English tennis player Laura Robson has opted not to use her protected injury ranking to gain direct entry into next month's Australian Open.

She will instead play a range of smaller tournaments in an attempt to improve her ranking, after only managing eight matches in 17 months, after battling a persistence wrist injury.

Robson is currently ranked 555th in the world after her injury lay off without her protected ranking. However, with her protected ranking she is ranked 58th.

A protected ranking is given to players who have been injured and unable to play for at least six months.