All-play Wednesday features Sabalenka, Badosa, Keys & more
Tennis fans, start your engines.
After inclement weather saw the early end to Tuesday – and the cancelation of the evening session – at the Credit One Charleston Open, 21 matches are slated for a wall-to-wall day of world-class women’s tennis on Daniel Island.
Can you make it to every match?
It’s the ultimate challenge on a day when the only thing more packed than the schedule is the talent pool, as top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa are joined by 2019 champion Madison Keys, two-time major finalist Karolina Pliskova and ground-breaking Tunisian player Ons Jabeur.
Just to name a few.
It’s Jabeur who will headline the Wednesday night evening session across the net from Charleston native Emma Navarro. Navarro is the reigning NCAA champion, and Tuesday registered her third career main draw win at the WTA level.
Jabeur plays a crafty all-court brand of tennis that is even more jaw-dropping in person, but different from the hard-hitting ways of Sabalenka, Badosa, Pliskova and Keys – all of whom feature in the afternoon session.
Keys kicks off the day on Credit One Stadium against Norwegian qualifier Ulrikke Eikeri, while Pliskova will need to rally from a set down vs. Katarina Zavatska in a match held over from Tuesday.
Sabalenka will meet American Alison Riske, while Badosa has Anna Bondar of Hungary.
Following Jabeur-Navarro at 7pm, US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, the lefty from up North, takes on Magda Linette.
Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Paula Badosa pose in front of the Riviera Theater on King Street in Charleston. (Photo by Chris Smith/Charleston Open)
Like any bumper day at the best women’s-only event in pro tennis, the side courts don’t only satisfy they thrill: No. 6 Jessica Pegula, a Hilton Head native, features on the Althea Gibson Club Court, while 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova will aim for an upset of Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, the No. 10 seed.
Americans Amanda Anisimova and Claire Liu play in the first and third matches, respectively, on Court 3, while it’s an all-USA battle to start the day on Court 4 between Lauren Davis and Coco Vandeweghe.
Keys, who had a resurgent start to the season by winning a title and making the Australian Open semifinals, will open the day on stadium, a venue she has had a virtual tour of before arriving, but will play on for the first time on Wednesday.
“It’s beautiful,” the 2017 US Open runner-up said. “I kind of got a sneak peek of it virtually. We love the new players’ area, but the venue is so fan friendly. I feel like we’re constantly mingling with the fans and I think that’s such a unique part of Charleston.”
Four doubles matches are slated, including one that features former world No. 1 and champion here, Sania Mirza of India.
It’s a unique day from start to finish. So – all 21 matches – did you do it? Did you watch them all?
