The clay-court swing on the WTA Tour will begin with two tournaments. One of these is the prestigious Charleston Open, played on Green clay in South Carolina. Defending champion Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens are among those on this year’s entry list. Nine women, including two Grand Slam finalists, withdrew from the event. With two Grand Slam finalists among the withdrawals, the draw has opened up significantly, making the Charleston Open one of the more unpredictable tournaments in the current tennis betting markets on Stake.
Nine Players Withdraw From Charleston Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Amanda Anisimova was the highest-ranked player to withdraw from the Charleston Open. The Wimbledon and US Open runner-up announced that she sustained an injury at the Miami Open and decided not to play after receiving medical advice. It would have been her first appearance since splitting from coach Rick Vleeshouwers, a key figure during her outstanding 2025 season.
Emma Navarro was the other American withdrawal. It is particularly disappointing for her, since she was born in Charleston and receives great support at the tournament. Navarro cannot compete at her home event due to an ongoing illness, but is hopeful of returning to action soon.
Jelena Ostapenko was the third player to withdraw from the Charleston Open. The 2017 French Open winner’s most recent appearance at the Miami Open ended in a round-of-16 defeat to Hailey Baptiste. Ostapenko, who is a former runner-up in Charleston, provided no official explanation for her decision.
Daria Kasatkina will not return to a tournament where she has fond memories. The 28-year-old secured her maiden title on the green clay in 2017 as a 19-year-old. She has not played since the Dubai Tennis Championships because of an ongoing right hip injury. No timeline has been provided for when the former French Open semifinalist will return to the court.
Young star Maya Joint, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Cristina Bucsa, Varvara Gracheva, and Wang Xinyu were the other players who removed themselves from the entry list for the tournament in South Carolina.
Who Replaced Those Players on the Entry List?
Yulia Starodubtseva took Anisimova’s spot at the Charleston Open. That is somewhat ironic since the Ukrainian’s last match ended in a defeat to the American at the Miami Open. She faced Anisimova after winning four matches as a qualifier, including defeating Eva Lys. Alycia Parks replaced her compatriot Navarro. The powerful server faced Coco Gauff in Miami during the world No. 3’s run to the final, ending in a loss against Aryna Sabalenka.
Ajla Tomljanovic is another player now on the entry list because of Haddad Maia’s decision to withdraw. The veteran has reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals, most recently at the 2022 US Open. Although no longer at her peak, she remains capable of producing good tennis and being a dangerous opponent. Lulu Sun, best known for reaching the 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinals, benefited from Gracheva’s withdrawal. She has been in poor form recently, but has a chance to change her fortunes on a different surface.
Katie Volynets, Anastasia Zakharova, Renata Zarazua, Dalma Galfi, and a yet-to-be-confirmed lucky loser are the others who entered the Charleston Open entry list.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
