Caroline Wozniacki was the WTA Charleston champion in 2011 and made the final in 2009 and 2019. She returns to the event after five years and will be hoping to produce another vintage run. On the other side of the net in the opening round, she’ll find lucky loser McCartney Kessler. Who do you think will advance? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Charleston Day 1 Predictions
Mayar Sherif vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: First meeting
We’re entering Mayar Sherif’s favorite part of the season and it comes at a much-needed moment. She’s 0-3 for the year in professional matches, although she recently made the semifinals at the African Games (where losing at that stage was probably considered a disappointment for her). She might love clay, but the green dirt in Charleston is obviously a very different surface profile. It’s a good opportunity for Sherif to get back on track, but she’s not the favorite here.
Prediction: Tomova in 3
Tamara Korpatsch vs Daria Saville
Head-to-head: Saville 1-0
If not for starting last season in June, Daria Saville wouldn’t have to be qualifying for events like this right now. The Australian should get there over the course of the clay swing though and this would be a great place to start. Back in the day, the green clay in Charleston used to be pretty nice for her and given that Tamara Korpatsch is 3-9 for the year, it’s the qualifier who seems like a clear favorite in this one. She also took down the German in Hamburg last year.
Prediction: Saville in 2
Varvara Gracheva vs Clervie Ngounoue
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tough to say what Clervie Ngounoue is ready for at this stage of her career, but for what it’s worth she’s very familiar with green clay having claimed her maiden pro title on it in Naples earlier this year. One of the best juniors in the world will take on Varvara Gracheva here, who failed to repeat her results from February/March of 2023 and had to snap a 7-match losing streak to qualify here. Gracheva has had a rather soft draw so far, the 17-year-old might be considered a step up for her.
Prediction: Ngounoue in 3
Caroline Wozniacki vs McCartney Kessler
Head-to-head: First meeting
Caroline Wozniacki had that big run in Indian Wells, but overall her season has been a little more up and down than most expected. The former World No. 1 was always deadly in Charleston, winning the title in 2011 and never losing before the quarterfinals. Will that streak be in danger this year? Perhaps not in the first round as while McCartney Kessler has some solid potential, she only made it in as a lucky loser and likely won’t be solid enough to take out Wozniacki.
Prediction: Wozniacki in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
