WTA

7 TOP 10 RANKED PLAYERS, 4 GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS, 3 FORMER WORLD NO. 1’S, FOUR PAST D.C. TITLISTS & MANY FAN FAVORITES JOIN STAR-STUDDED @MUBADALACITIDC FIELD 

Posted by Admin on June 7, 2023
Posted in: ATP, Baltimore, Mubadala Citi DC Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The world’s top ATP and WTA players will compete at the new Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington D.C. July 29 – August 6 at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. The Citi Open recently agreed to combine with the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic to create the Mubadala Citi DC Open, the fifth largest professional tennis event in the United States and the only combined ATP-WTA 500 level tennis tournament in the world. The new combined event is pending ATP Board approval.

The tournament’s powerful player field already includes 15 early commitments with four top 10 WTA players, three top 10 ATP players, four Grand Slam champions, three former World No. 1’s and four past D.C. champions signed on to compete in the nation’s capital this summer, as well as many fan favorites. 

Initial ATP player commitments include 2021 US Open champion and World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, 2019 and 2022 D.C. singles and doubles champion Nick Kyrgios, former World No. 1, three-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Gold Medalist Andy Murray, World No. 8 and 2022 Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz, 2021 US Open semifinalist and World No. 10 Felix Auger-Aliassime, World No. 12 and Washington, D.C. native Frances Tiafoe, three-time Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov and 2016 D.C. champion Gael Monfils. 

Coco Gauff, 2019 Citi Open (TennisAtlantic.com)

The Washington, D.C. WTA field includes World No. 6 and 2019 D.C. doubles champion Coco Gauff, World No. 3 and 2019 D.C. singles and 2022 doubles champion Jessica Pegula, former World No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, World No. 5 and 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia, World No. 9 and 2022 San Jose champion Daria Kasatkina, 2017 US Open champion and 2015 D.C. champion Sloane Stephens and former World No. 3 and 2023 Roland Garros quarterfinalist Elina Svitolina. 

“We are thrilled to share our initial group of some of the most compelling men’s and women’s players in the world who will make up the incredibly exciting, deep player field we are building for the 2023 tournament,” said Mark Ein, Mubadala Citi DC Open Chairman. “With seven current top 10 players, three former number ones and so many fan favorites, Washington has become one of the most anticipated stops on both tours for players and one of the biggest events of the summer in DC. Ticket sales are at a record pace and we expect a third straight summer of a completely sold-out event.”

Mubadala Citi DC Open ATP player field additions current highlights:

  • Daniil Medvedev, World No. 2: 2021 US Open champion and former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev reached the D.C. final in 2019. His 2023 season includes five titles – in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami and Rome – and a finals appearance in Indian Wells. The 27-year-old holds 20 ATP career titles. 
  • Taylor Fritz, World No. 8: Taylor Fritz has eight quarterfinal or better finishes in 2023. He won the title in Delray Beach, reached the semifinals in Dallas, Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Munich and Geneva and the quarterfinals in Miami and Indian Wells. He also won the inaugural United Cup with Team USA in January. His 2022 season featured three titles, including his first ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells.
  • Felix Auger-Aliassime, World No. 10: Felix Auger-Aliassime captured four titles in 2022 – in Rotterdam, Florence, Antwerp and Basel, to conclude a breakthrough season with victories over World No. 1 Carols Alcaraz and former No. 1’s Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. He also reached the quarterfinals in the Australian Open and five ATP Masters 1000 events. The 20-year-old Canadian was a 2023 quarterfinalist in Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Lyon and a semifinalist in Doha. He became the first Canadian man to reach the US Open semifinals in 2021.
  • Frances Tiafoe, World No. 12: Frances Tiafoe, a Washington, D.C. native, is having a strong start this season. He reached the quarterfinals in Dallas and Acapulco, semifinals in Indian Wells and captured his second career title in Houston. He also went undefeated at this year’s United Cup to help clinch the championship for Team USA. In 2018 he won his first title at age 20 in Delray Beach, becoming the second youngest American ATP champion since Andy Roddick. He ended his 2022 season on a high note with quarterfinal appearances in Washington, D.C. and the Rolex Paris Masters, a semifinals run at the US Open and finals appearance in Tokyo.
  • Nick Kyrgios, World No. 26: Nick Kyrgios produced strong results in his 2022 season, capturing the Australian Open doubles title, reaching his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and winning the singles and doubles titles in D.C. He also reached the US Open, Montreal and Indian Wells quarterfinals and the semifinals in Stuttgart and Houston. The 28-year-old Australian has been sidelined in 2023 with a knee injury but will defend his titles in Washington, D.C. this summer.
  • Grigor Dimitrov, World No. 29: Grigor Dimitrov holds eight career titles and is a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, including the 2019 US Open. The Bulgarian reached the quarterfinals in Marseille, semifinals in Rotterdam and finals in Geneva this season, as well as the fourth round of Roland Garros. In 2022, he made a semifinals run at Monte Carlo and quarterfinals appearance in Indian Wells.
  • Andy Murray, World No. 43: Andy Murray holds 46 career titles, including the 2012 US Open and 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon titles. He was the first tennis player to win two Olympic gold medals (in London and Rio) and is the first British World No. 1. He reached his 71st ATP final this season in Doha. He was a Washington, D.C. finalist in 2006 and a quarterfinalist in 2018.
  • Gael Monfils, Wild Card: Gael Monfils has accepted a main draw wild card for the 2023 Mubadala Citi DC Open. The Frenchman recently returned to tennis after suffering a heel injury in 2022. He holds 11 ATP singles titles and has been ranked as high as World No. 6. His 2022 season included a title in Adelaide and a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open. He captured the Washington, D.C. title in 2016 and was a finalist in 2011. 

Mubadala Citi DC Open WTA player field additions current highlights:

  • Jessica Pegula, World No. 3: The highest-ranked American tennis player, Jessica Pegula has two career WTA singles titles, winning in Guadalajara (WTA 1000) in 2022 and her first singles title in Washington, D.C. in 2019. She also owns seven career doubles titles, including the 2022 D.C. title. In 2022, she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open. This season, Pegula has made the finals in Doha, reached the semifinals in Dubai, Miami and Charleston and competed in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and in Madrid. Additionally, Pegula participated on the winning U.S. team in this year’s United Cup. 
  • Caroline Garcia, World No. 5: Caroline Garcia’s resurgent 2022 season saw her break back into the top 10 and capture four singles titles, including the Cincinnati title and the season-ending WTA Finals. She also won the Roland Garros doubles title and was a US Open semifinalist. In 2023, she has reached the quarterfinals in Adelaide, Doha and Stuttgart, and the finals in Stuttgart and Lyon.
  • Coco Gauff, World No. 6: Nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff holds three WTA singles titles and is the youngest player ranked within the WTA’s top 40. Her 2023 season includes a title in Auckland, a semifinal appearance in Dubai and quarterfinal competition in Indian Wells and Doha. She is currently competing in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. In 2022, the American had nine quarterfinal or better finishes, including a finals run at Roland Garros and a quarterfinals berth at the US Open. She has also captured eight doubles titles, winning in Washington, D.C. in 2019.

Pegula and Gauff are the only WTA players currently ranked in the top 10 in both singles and doubles. As partners, they reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in January, captured titles in Miami and Doha and reached the finals in Rome and Madrid. In 2022, they reached the finals of Roland Garros and are paired up again in Paris this year where they are currently in the semifinals. 

  • Daria Kasatkina, World No. 9: Daria Kasatkina is a six-time WTA singles champion. She won the title in San Jose last year (now the Mubadala Citi DC Open) and Granby, and reached the semifinals in Roland Garros, Rome, Sydney and Melbourne (Summer Set 2). In 2023, she made the finals in Adelaide, semifinals in Charleston and quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi. This will be her first time competing in the Washington, D.C. field.
  • Victoria Azarenka, World No. 18: Two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has 21 career WTA singles titles, including the 2012 and 2013 Australian Opens. Additionally, she is a two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion and a mixed doubles Olympic Gold medalist. She has made 18 Grand Slam quarterfinal or better appearances, including a semifinals run at the2023 Australian Open  and three US Open finals.
  • Sloane Stephens, World No. 30: American Sloane Stephens holds seven career titles, including the 2017 US Open and the 2015 D.C. title, her first WTA win. She was a finalist at Roland Garros in 2018 and a quarterfinalist  in 2022 and 2019. Her 2023 season includes quarterfinal appearances in Austin and Mérida and a semifinal run in Rabat. She recently fell in the fourth round of Roland Garros, which she’s successfully reached eight times in her career. 
  • Elina Svitolina (WC): Former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina has accepted a main draw wild card into the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The 2023 tournament will be her first time competing in the Washington, D.C. field. The Ukrainian and new mom returned to tennis in April after a year hiatus. She holds 17 WTA titles, including a  win in Strasbourg last month. She recently reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. In 2019, she appeared in the Wimbledon and US Open semifinals. 

The Mubadala Citi DC Open will announce additional players and fan experience highlights in the coming weeks.

In April 2019, MDE Sports, owned and led by Washington-based venture capitalist, entrepreneur and civic leader Ein, acquired the management rights of the Mubadala Citi DC Open tournament from the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), a non-profit which provides free tennis and educational programs for children in underserved communities. This acquisition secured the Mubadala Citi DC Open’s future in the U.S. and specifically in Washington.

For more than 50 years, the Mubadala Citi DC Open has hosted top tennis talent in Rock Creek Park. The tournament was founded to support Arthur Ashe’s vision of playing a professional tennis tournament in a fully accessible public park. The Mubadala Citi DC Open has continued to build and expand the event, with the goal of positively impacting the Washington community and creating one of the best events in the world. The WTEF, a longtime beneficiary of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, capitalizes on the tournament annually for fundraising and has raised millions for youth programs in the Washington area.

The 2022 tournament featured historic attendance records and sold out sessions throughout the week. Full tournament packages are on sale now and can be purchased via mubadalacitidcopen.com or by calling (202) 721-9500. To learn more about the tournament, ticket options, player fields, event policies and more, visit mubadalacitidcopen.com. 

About Mubadala Citi DC Open: The Mubadala Citi DC Open tournament, played in Washington D.C., is one of the world’s premier tennis events and benefits the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF). The tournament was founded in 1969 by Donald Dell, John Harris and Arthur Ashe in its current location in Rock Creek Park with a vision of making pro tennis accessible for all athletes and fans in the Washington community. Beginning in 2019, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and DC native Mark Ein’s organization, MDE Tennis, began managing and operating the tournament under an agreement with WTEF. The organization provides underserved children in the D.C. area with a safe environment to learn critical life skills both on and off the courts through academic and athletic enrichment. The Mubadala Citi DC Open tennis tournament is the only combined ATP and WTA 500 level event in the world on the tour calendar and one of only five combined ATP/WTA tour events in the United States.  After 53 years, it is also the longest-running professional tennis event at the same site in the United States. 

—A. Alpino

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Semifinals Preview: @CharlestonOpen

Posted by Admin on April 8, 2023
Posted in: Charleston, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The rain could be the biggest challenge for the singles semifinalists at the Charleston Open on Daniel Island, South Carolina today. Long delays do different things to different players and the conditions could indeed affect the outcomes of these seminal semis.

According to the WTA, Jessica Pegula has never taken a set from defending champion Belinda Bencic, and the American is 0-2 against top 20 players on clay in her career. Meanwhile, Bencic is 3-0 against Pegula (including the Tokyo Olympics) and is on the cusp of becoming the first back-to-back titleholder in Charleston since Serena Williams dominated in 2012-2013.

So why, oh why, is Pegula a favorite in this match with Vegas at -132? The pair have both played seven sets of tennis to get here, with both facing their toughest challenges in the Round of 16, where Pegula stunned Begu and Bencic overcame Rogers. Bencic should not be an underdog of any kind, no matter how slight, over the top seed. The edge is even here, but Bencic is a better bet due to the odds.

The Jabeur-Kasatkina is a slightly different story with Jabeur as a clear favorite to win today (-180). Jabeur hasn’t dropped a set in Chucktown, and in fact, hasn’t even played 6 sets of tennis since Anna Kalinskaya retired at 4-1 in the second set of her quarterfinal match. Kasatkina destroyed Madison Brengle in the second round, before winning very competitive matches against the very competitive Bernarda Pera and Vika Azarenka.

2 seed Jabeur is still looking for her first top 10 win of the season but has taken four in a row from world #8 Kasatkina, and I expect a three set thriller in this one with a slight edge to the Tunisian to play in the final for a second straight year. Kasatkina is still a decent bet at +150, because she will have more than a chance to win.

It’s the first time that a WTA 500 tournament has had all four top seeds in the semifinals in eleven years. That should offer spectators very intriguing matches today, tonight or whenever the rain abates. It’s 57 and drizzly now. Be patient and buckle up.

–S. Fogleman and T. Callaio

Top Four Seeds Advance to @CharlestonOpen Quarterfinals

Posted by Admin on April 7, 2023
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As temperatures began to heat up at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island, round of 16 action started the day yesterday with No. 6 seed Victoria Azarenka facing Anna Kalinskaya on Althea Gibson Club Court. Kalinskaya walked away with a two-set victory 6-4, 7-6(5), placing her in the quarterfinals. She will face the No. 2 seed, Ons Jabeur.

Kalinskaya, 11-years Azarenka’s junior, met for the first time in their careers. The youngster was able to best Azarenka in a two-hour tight match.

No. 12 seed Paula Badosa continued her winning ways as she rolled over Diana Shnaider, 6-1, 6-3, in an 82-minute match on Credit One Stadium court to open up Thursday’s round of 16 play at the Credit One Charleston Open.

Badosa had 5 aces on the day winning 83% of her first serve points breaking Shnaider four-times during the match.

Badosa will face No. 1 seed American Jessica Pegula.

No. 2 seed Ons Jabeur bested American Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 7-5 in their first-ever meeting on Thursday afternoon. 

In the first set, Jabeur broke out to a 4-1 lead before closing out the first set 6-3. The second set was level until the 11-game before Jabeur broke Dolehide to go up 6-5. She closed out the second set and match holding serve at 7-5.

Jabeur will now face Anna Kalinskaya the quarter final. 

After taking the first set 7-5 against Irina Begu, it looked like No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula was lining herself up for a straight set win before the wheels came off after being up 4-0 in the second set.

Begu began to charge back while Pegula’s game went away losing 10-game in a row and the second set 6-4.

Credit One Stadium was watching an upset in the making when Pegula dug in after being down 0-4 in the third set to the 15th seed.

Pegula tied up the match at 4-4, then broke Begu at love before serving out the match 6-4 taking the last eight games in the final set.

Pegula will face No. 12 seed Paula Badosa in a quarterfinal match.

There was no joy in Shelbyville last night as 4 seed Belinda Bencic ended the run of hometown prodigy Shelby Rogers, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

That’s right, all four seeds made the quarterfinals. What kind of WTA alternate reality are we living in here? That’s the first time that’s happened in Charleston in seventeen years. Seven of the remaining players in the quarters are seeded.

Also of note is that three players in the elite eight fly under the blank white flag of nowhere in particular. And despite all of the talk about Pegula and Jabeur, it seems that the likes of Kalinskaya, Alexandrova and Kasatkina are the lurkers and each of them could win the title here.

—T. Callaio and S. Fogleman

Seeds Advance at @CharlestonOpen Wednesday

Posted by Admin on April 6, 2023
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Wednesday brought big names in big matches to the Charleston Open on Daniel Island, South Carolina as the top four seeds advanced to the round of 16, something slightly rare on the WTA tour.

First up was Jessica Pegula. She arrived late in Charleston, but made up for lost time as she raced past Anna Blinkova, 6-2, 6-0. You could say that as soon as you blinked, it was “ova”.

Pegula played her first match of the year on clay courts and needed just 64 minutes to advance to the third round. The American broke Blinkova twice in the first set, taking it 6-2. 

In an uncontested second set, Blinkova only managed to serve 33% on her first serve and 21% on her second serve.

Top seed Pegula plays Irina Begu today. Begu, the 15 seed, dismissed Sofia Kenin in straights yesterday, 6-1, 6-4.

Two seed Ons Jabeur managed Lesia Tsurenko, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the R16 and face a matchup with wild card surprise Caroline Dolehide.

3 seed Daria Kasatkina also dominated her opponent yesterday, Madison Brengle, 6-2, 6-1, to set up a match against Bernarda Pera.

Canadian Kathrine Sebov displayed high quality effort this week in Charleston. Yesterday, she was no match for 4 seed and defending champion Belinda Bencic as Bencic cruised, 6-0, 6-2. Bencic moves on to Shelbyville.

And in calling it Shelbyville, I mean the Shelby Seed. The native South Carolinian, with her hometown crowd and familiar conditions always means she’s outperforming on the Charleston green clay. Her desire to win this particular title makes her a de facto seed regardless of current ranking on the tour. She launched a comeback bid after losing the first set to Caty McNally, 7-6(4). Never wanting to go down in her own house, Rogers persevered and found ways to win in a 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1 victory. Should Bencic be upset by Rogers tonight, Shelbyville would go wild.

12 seed Paula Badosa was slow getting out of the gate in her match with Lelyah Ferdandez, going down a break in the first set before clawing her way back to take the first set 7-5. The second set was close between the two battling the heat and each other on center court.

It ended in a tie-break with Badosa coming out on top 8-6 completing the victory 7-5, 7-6(6). Badosa now owns a 3-0 head-to-head match lead and faces Diana Shnaider next.

And not to be overlooked is the legendary Vika Azarenka. The 33-year-old grand slam champion completed her own impressive comeback against Sloane Stephens on Wednesday, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. She is the most dangerous lurker in the field and should be able to handle Anna Kalinskaya in the round of 16.

—S. Fogleman, T. Callaio

Victors Advance to Round of 32 at @CharlestonOpen

Posted by Admin on April 4, 2023
Posted in: Charleston, WTA. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Daniel Island, S.C.—After rain forced last night’s prime-time sessions off the court, there was a lot of playing to do at the Credit One Charleston Open in Charleston today. Sofia Kenin and Aliaksandra Sasnovich resumed their aborted match,with Kenin holding a 3-0 third set lead. She quickly capitalized on the lead and made short work of Sasnovich on Stadium court, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1. 15 seed Irina Begu awaits Kenin in the next match.

Leylah Fernandez was a force to be reckoned with today on Althea Gibson court and dominated her first round match against Evgeniya Rodina, 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes. She’ll face Paula Badosa in round 2, who earlier defeated Mayer Sharif on Stadium court, 6-3, 6-1. Badosa noted that she had a little extra time since being bounced early at the Miami Open. “I had a lot of days from Miami to come here to practice,” Badosa said, half-jokingly. “I really worked very hard. I’m playing well, I think.”

Caty McNally was another straight sets winner today. She enjoyed the pro-American crowd and cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 win over Julie Niemeier of Germany. She’ll meet up with hometown favorite Shelby Rogers on Thursday. Rogers overcame Danielle Collins in three sets, 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-1. No one beats Shelby in the first round on Stadium court in Charleston.

There might be no one as cool and calm in Charleston as Hailey Baptiste right now. The qualifying alternate leaped head first into the final 32 here with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Xiyu Wang on Court 3. Baptiste draws Madison Keys in the second round as Keys was a winner against Emma
Navarro, 6-4, 6-3.

Varvara Gracheva eased past Anna Lena Friedsam of Germany today in the first set before taking full control of the match in the second set, 7-6(3), 6-2. Gracheva is always a dangerous threat in the draw and I will pick her to upset Magda Linette in the second round.

Charleston fans were treated to the return of Sabine Lisicki over the weekend in qualifying. Today, her 2023 run ended at the hands of American Caroline Dolehide. Before the rain, the match was scheduled to be played on a packed Stadium court last night, which might have been an advantage for the former Wimbledon finalist. Instead, it was played on a sparsely attended outer court in the middle of the day, a locale that Dolehide knows all too well. Lisicki never found her rhythm, finding herself in early holes in each set. She rallied in each but fell short in both sets and exited the tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to the American. Dolehide will play 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova next.

Upsets Abound at Early @CharlestonOpen First Round #CharlestonOpen

Posted by Admin on April 3, 2023
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Sebov

Daniel Island, S.C.–Main draw play began this morning under cloudy skies at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island in South Carolina. A breakout Canadian, an American birthday girl, a Czech teen and a Charleston Open debutante started the action with four upsets.

On Althea Gibson court, world #92 Madison Brengle celebrated her 32nd birthday as she went on to victory over Kaia Kanepi, 6-3, 6-4. The fans serenaded her with “Happy Birthday” as she left the court after the win.

On Stadium court, 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova persevered in three sets to oust world #60 Jill Teichmann, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Fruhvirtova

Next up was #89 Julia Grabher. The 26-year-old Austrian had never played at Charleston until today and she did so in winning fashion with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 effort against #28 Shuai Zhang.

Grabher

On Stadium court, another upset was in the making. This one wasn’t unexpected to anyone who has watched Canadian Katherine Sebov play this weekend or this year. The world #149 qualified in Miami two weeks ago and won her first round match. In Charleston, she’s done the same. With two wins to propel her to the main draw, Sebov played with determination over the weekend to gain entry to Charleston. Despite losing the first set narrowly today, she played through the Stadium court jitters and the pro-American crowd to outlast #57 Lauren Davis, 4-6, 6-1,6-2.

Tsurenko

Lesia Tsurenko was too much for Paula Ormaechea today, and Tsurenko prevailed, 6-1, 6-1. Ons Jabeur will meet the Ukrainian in round 2.

Blinkova

Anna Blinkova set up a match with the tournament’s top seed, Jessica Pegula, with a 7-6(7), 6-2 win against Anna Bondar.

Qualifying Concludes at @CharlestonOpen

Posted by Admin on April 3, 2023
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Daniel Island, S.C.–Alternate Hailey Baptiste qualified for the main draw of the Charleston Open yesterday after winning back-to-back matches in 24 hours. Baptiste was placed in the qualifying field on Saturday morning after Taylor Townsend withdrew from the Charleston tournament to pursue a doubles title in Miami.

Paula Ormaechea is a familiar face in Charleston qualifying and the fans admire her verbal expressiveness. They witnessed peak Paula on Sunday, as the Argentinian needed three sets to eke out a win over the talented Magdalena Frech. Her reward for the weekend slog is a first round matchup against Lesia Tsurenko, a 6-1 favorite to win today.

Sabine Lisicki, after a commanding win on Saturday, found things more dramatic and unsteady in the qualifying final. After taking a 5-2 lead over Katarzyna Kawa, she lost the first set, 6-7(1) and looked out of sorts, plaintively looking at her parents in the stands. She recovered in time to win the second tie break, 7-6(1) before pulling away in the third set, 6-3, to qualify for the main draw for a first rounder against American Caroline Dolehide.

Qualifiers Kayla Day and Sachia Vickery both won yesterday and will face each other today. Louisa Chirico was yesterday’s first qualifier, running over Elvina Kalieva, 6-4, 6-1. She opens up her main draw campaign against Sloane Stephens. Katherine Sebov continued her red-hot 2023 campaign by beating Francesca Di Lorenzo, 6-4, 6-2, and will play Lauren Davis today on Stadium court.

There are always a few upsets in the first round of any tournament. Today, I like underdogs Linda Fruhvirtova (+160) besting Jill Teichmann, and Sebov (+155) surprising Lauren Davis. I’m also going to go out on a limb and predict Sasnovich (+145) upsets Kenin. At +582, it’s hard to predict Ormaechea over Tsurenko, but if she has anything left in the tank today, an Ormaechea win wouldn’t be as shocking as the odds suggest. Sports gambling is illegal in South Carolina, so please keep it down over there.

One More Win to the Main Draw: @CharlestonOpen Saturday Results

Posted by Admin on April 1, 2023
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Daniel Island, SC—Under breezy conditions, eight qualifiers prevailed today to advance to a final tomorrow at the Credit One Charleston Open in Daniel Island, SC. It was so gusty that Argentina’s Paula Ormaechaea aborted her serve 8 times in one game alone.

The only one who had it worse than the ball toss today was Coco Vandeweghe. The former top ten player and highest seeded American in qualifying looked listless as she was routined by the 19-year-old Elvina Kalieva, 6-2, 6-1. Kalieva is a fellow American and will face Louisa Chirico next. Chirico defeated fellow American Sophie Chang, 7-6(5), 6-3. Speaking of straight sets, the first six matches were two and outs.

Canada’s Katherine Sebov had a great March in winning an ITF title in Toronto followed by her first WTA 1000 level match win in Miami. She started the month of April with a win here in Charleston today, 6-2, 6-1 over Gabriela Ce. She’ll look for a spot in the main draw when she takes the court against Francesca Di Lorenzo tomorrow.

Ohio State alum Francesca DiLorenzo pulled off the comeback of the day in outlasting French Open doubles champion Kiki Mladenovic in three, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. DiLorenzo maintained composure in the third set as Mladenovic raced back from 0-4 to nearly level the match before the Frenchwoman’s serve failed her repeatedly.

Fan favorite Sabine Lisicki raced out to a 6-1 first set before closing the second set in a tiebreak, 6-1, 7-6(5) over Yuriko Miyazaki.

The final eight qualifiers will be decided by tomorrow afternoon and will face main draw participants Lauren Davis, Caroline Dolehide, Varvara Gracheva, Xiyu Wang, Sloane Stephens, or one another, as two qualifiers will meet in the first round.

Saturday’s @CharlestonOpen Qualifying Order of Play

Posted by Admin on April 1, 2023
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Charleston–The qualifying aspirants at the Credit One Charleston Open will face windy conditions on the green clay today, as 32 players seek one of 8 spots in the main draw, which begins Monday.

Sixteen Americans are in the qualifying field and four of those matches will be All-American: Coco Vandeweghe against Elvina Kalieva, Sophie Chang vs. Louisa Chirico, Robin Montgomery taking on Ashlyn Krueger and finally, Asia Muhammad against Eliza Mandlik. No American qualifier is ranked higher than a 7 seed (Vandeweghe) because if they had, they probably would have a main draw wild card by now.

Althea Gibson Court 10:00 a.m.

Vandeweghe vs. Kalieva

Chang vs. Chirico

Lisicki vs. Miyazaki

Mateas v. Watson

Court 3 10:00 a.m.

Loeb vs. Ormaechea

Montgomery vs. Krueger

Korpatsch (1) vs. Li

Muhammad vs. Mandlik

Court 4 10:00 a.m.

Frech vs. Glushko

Mladenovic vs. Di Lorenzo

Lee vs. Day

Townsend vs. Zacarias (UPDATE: Townsend W/D, Baptiste in)

Court 5 10:00 a.m.

Ce vs. Sebov

Siegemund vs. Vickery

Golubic vs. Kawa

Friedsam vs. Hovde