Tennis Atlantic

On another borderline blustery day, Saturday’s winners went double or nothing and ended up in the WTA 500 main draw here at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island, South Carolina.

A diminished qualifying field made today’s matches feel a little bit more special, as only the big time show courts, Stadium and Althea Gibson, were used in play for 3 matches a piece. Still, it felt a little quiet around the grounds and you could hear the traffic on the I-526 overpass above and if you listened even more attentively, you might have thought you heard the quiet racism that is the silent brook pervasive in these parts. But you’d be mistaken, because Charleston, as the Charlestonians will assuredly assure you, is a bastion of Progressive Thinkers and, at a minimum, the area is an Oasis of Moderates.

So…yeah.

Maryland native Ayana Akli had a field day against a qualifying alternate yesterday so she was certainly an underdog coming into her match versus Viktoriya Tomova on Stadium court. Despite racing out to claim the first set, Tomova found the cure and steamrolled Akli from there, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Polina Kudermetova also enjoyed favorite status against Eva Vedder on Althea Gibson court and only needed two sets to prove it, advancing to the main draw, 6-2, 6-2.

Donna Vekic was easily the Big Dog of this 2026 qualifying field and it was never in doubt as to her accession to the main draw. She beat Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-2, 6-3 as she eased through the weekend. I’m sorry, Ms. Vekic, but you’re over-qualified for this qualifying gig. She’s back in the main draw where she belongs.

In the only match to guarantee a USA Wild Card advancing to the draw, Akasha Urhobo was in battle mode in dispatching compatriot Elvina Kalieva 6-1, 6-1. Team USA was not to be outdone as Kayla Day and Mary Stoiana advanced to the main draw as well.

In a usual light Monday schedule of a tournament of this nature, Viktoriya Tomova will face Jen Brady, Vekic squares off against Tomljanovic, Stoiana will look to get past Parks, Lucky Loser Kalieva gets Kessler, Lucky Loser Vidmanova plays Bondar and Urhobo takes on Sierra,

I’m out of synonyms for this fairy tale weekend. The reduced qualifying field took the sails out of some of the frenetic fun the opening normally exudes. The competition from Tuesday on should be compelling, but the player field here may have hits its peak years ago.