DANIEL ISLAND, SC—Six qualifiers seized their spots in the main draw at the Charleston Open yesterday ahead of the beginning of play today at 11:00 a.m. The marquis matchup saw Daria Saville advance over Heather Watson, 6-3, 6-2. The Australian will face Tamara Korpatsch in Round 1 in what is a favorable draw for Saville. Should she advance, she will become Elina Svitolina’s first opponent of the 2024 Charleston campaign.

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Gabriela Lee mastered Astra Sharma on Court 3 yesterday afternoon in another match that involved improved play by the opponent in the second set. With the 6-2, 6-3 win behind her, Lee will rest up for a match against 19-year-old Ashlyn Kruger tomorrow.

Top qualifying seed Varvara Gracheva did her part to justify by top billing by handling Usue Arconada, 6-2, 6-4, in a match that felt closer than the scoreline. Gracheva doesn’t get a day off–she’ll take on wild card Clervie Ngounoue tonight on Stadium Court.

Also pulling through qualifying was Katie Volynets with a three set comeback win and a date against Arantxa Rus, and Claire Liu with her own three set comeback over Linda Fruhvirtova, setting up a match between the young American and Shelby Rogers tonight. Sachia Vickery thought she’d taken down compatriot McCartney Kessler in qualifying, but they’re both still playing. Vickery moves on to meet Jaqueline Cristian, while lucky loser Kessler faces Caroline Wozniacki on stadium court for what is arguably the match of the day.

—S. Fogleman