The WTA clay court season begins at the Charleston Open. It is the only event of the year played on green clay, making the WTA 500 tournament a unique part of the calendar every season. There is an outstanding entry list for the event, with WTA Finals runner-up Jessica Pegula, three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur and last year’s Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari the Top 3 seeds in South Carolina. However, four players have elected to withdraw from the Charleston Open. This article lists those who have withdrawn and then names their four replacements in the draw.
Four Players Withdraw From Charleston Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Barbora Krejcikova was the first player to withdraw from the Charleston Open. She has been out with a back injury for over a month. This issue led to Krejcikova not being able to play at the Dubai Open last month and she is yet to return since. The 2021 French Open winner will hope to be back soon but there is currently no timeline for when this will happen.
Jelena Ostapenko was the second player to withdraw from the Charleston Open. The 2017 French Open champion has enjoyed a terrific start to the season by winning two titles. However, she did endure early exits in Indian Wells and Miami. No official reason has been given for why the 2017 runner-up in Charleston has elected not to play.
Diane Parry has also withdrawn from the event. The Frenchwoman’s achievements this so far this year include a third-round appearance at the Australian Open, a run to the fourth-round in Indian Wells and reaching a career-high ranking of No. 54. Parry has not explained her decision not to feature. It is possible that she needs a breather after her admirable efforts so far this season.
Wang Yafan was the final player to withdraw from the Charleston Open. She had enjoyed some previous success in Charleston this season. This was at the WTA 125 event held in Charleston, where she reached the semifinal. But she will not get a chance to repeat or better that accomplishment.
Who Replaces Those Four Players In The Draw?
Kayla Day benefits from Krejcikova’s decision to withdraw from the Charleston Open. The 24-year-old American has some clay court pedigree after reaching the French Open third-round last year. She will hope to recapture some of that form on the green clay courts in South Carolina.
Alize Cornet replaces Jelena Ostapenko at the Charleston Open. The French veteran is hoping to find some form after a slow start to 2024. Clay has been the 34-year-old’s most successful surface during her long career, giving Cornet some hope of finding inspiration at the opening clay court tournament of the year.
Taylor Townsend is also set to feature due to Parry electing to withdraw. The American is one of the most explosive players on the WTA Tour. She wowed the fans in Indian Wells and Miami with triumphs against last year’s Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette and Elise Mertens, who recently defeated US Open champion Coco Gauff.
Finally, Tamara Korpatsch replaces Wang Yafan at the Charleston Open. It has been a slow start to the season for the German. She has won just a single main-draw match so far this year. Korpatsch will hope the clay court season is a turning point for her.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
