The WTA Tour has shifted to the dirt of Charleston as 64 women compete for the 500-level Credit One Charleston Open title. Some of the best players in the world have traveled to WTA Charleston to compete in this event, including a blockbuster second-round matchup between Danielle Collins and No. 2 seed Ons Jabeur. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all happenings around the grounds of Charleston. But who will advance?
WTA Charleston Day 3 Predictions
Lesia Tsurenko vs Astra Sharma
Head-to-Head: Tsurenko 0-1 Sharma
No. 16 seed Lesia Tsurenko draws Lucky Loser Astra Sharma in Round 2 at WTA Charleston. Tsurenko has won just two matches over the last six weeks and does not have a great history on the clay. That said, Sharma’s recent results do not suggest she is a real threat at the Tour level. Sharma’s last Tour win came in July. Expect Tsurenko to power her way through in this match.
Prediction: Tsurenko in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-Head: Kasatkina 1-0 Krueger
Daria Kasatkina is on the brink of breaking back into the top ten, and the switch to the clay season should see her make that jump. She reached the semis at WTA Charleston last season and is 24-11 on the clay over the previous two seasons. Ashlyn Krueger, a 19-year-old American, will have the support of the home crowd. She has the tools to be a top-20 player but lacks the consistency to hang with a player like Kasatkina on the dirt.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Elise Mertens vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-Head: Mertens 1-0 Gracheva
Elise Mertens has always been a solid clay-court player and should relish the change in surface. That said, she gets a tricky opener against Qualifier Varvara Gracheva. The 23-year-old Frenchwoman has already won three matches this week. I typically do not put much stock in a qualifiers form, but it could make a difference, given this is Mertens’ first clay event of the season. Expect Gracheva to play well early, but I see Mertens finding her form and taking this in a decider.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Danielle Collins vs Ons Jabeur
Head-to-Head: Collins 2-1 Jabeur
Danielle Collins is coming off of arguably the most dominant tournament of her career. The 30-year-old American dropped just one set en route to seven victories and a 1000-level title in Miami. Collins backed that up with an impressive 6-1 6-4 win over Paula Badosa at WTA Charleston and now draws No. 2 seed Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian enters this bout on a four-match losing streak. She has just two wins in 2024 and has struggled with confidence. Despite her clay-court prowess, expecting her to beat such an in-form player is a tall ask. I’ll take Collins in three.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
