Tennis News

With the American hardcourt swing wrapped up after Indian Wells and Miami, the clay season begins in earnest at the Premier-level Volvo Car Open in Charleston. But for those not ready to switch surfaces, the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey has drawn a world-class field.

Here’s what’s on tap for this week on the WTA:

CURRENT TOURNAMENTS:

Volvo Car Open – Charleston

Tournament Level: Premier
Prize Money: $710,900
Draw Size: 56 main draw (8 byes)/32 qualifying
Surface: Green clay, outdoors

Qualifying Dates: Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, April 2
First Day of Main Draw: April 3

Singles Final: Sunday, April 9, NB 1:00 pm EDT
Doubles Final: Sunday, April 9, 10:30 am EDT

Top-ranked players: Madison Keys, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Vesnina, Sam Stosur
Defending Champion: Sloane Stephens

TALKING POINTS:

– Five former Charleston champions are present: Andrea Petkovic (2014), Samantha Stosur (2010), and ex-No.1s Caroline Wozniacki (2011), Jelena Jankovic (2007) and Venus Williams (2004)

– Reigning Charleston champion Sloane Stephens is unable to defend title she won by beating Elena Vesnina 12 months ago due to her continuing recovery from foot surgery

– Madison Keys is top seed – a status she has enjoyed only once before at a WTA event (2015 Strasbourg) – and will continue her comeback having returned from a wrist injury at the Indian Wells-Miami double-header

Abierto GNP Seguros – Monterrey

Tournament Level: International
Prize Money: $226,750
Draw Size: 32 main draw/32 qualifying
Surface: Outdoor hard

Qualifying Dates: Saturday, April 1 – Monday, April 3
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, April 3

Singles Final: Sunday, April 9, NB 3:30 pm CDT
Doubles Final: Sunday, April 9, 1:00 pm CDT

Top-ranked players: Angelique Kerber, Carla Suárez Navarro, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Caroline Garcia, Timea Babos
Defending Champion: Heather Watson

TALKING POINTS:

– World No.1 Angelique Kerber is competing at this year’s tournament, having reached the final here in 2013

– No.2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova returns to Monterrey for her sixth time, clinching the title on three occasions – 2010, 2011 and 2013

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS:

Claro Open Colsanitas – Bogota
International | $226,750 | Clay
Monday, April 10 – Saturday, April 15
Top-ranked players: Kiki Bertens, Katerina Siniakova, Peng Shuai, Johanna Larsson, Lara Arruabarrena
Defending Champion: Irina Falconi

Ladies Open Biel Bienne
International | $226,750 | Indoor Hard
Monday, April 10 – Sunday, April 16
Top-ranked players: Barbora Strycova, Timea Babos, Roberta Vinci, Laura Siegemund
Defending Champion: None, first staging

Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – Stuttgart
Premier | $710,900 | Indoor Clay
Monday, April 24 – Sunday, April 30
Top-ranked players: Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska
Defending champion: Angelique Kerber

TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup
International | $226,750 | Clay
Monday, April 24 – Sunday, April 30
Top-ranked players: Elina Svitolina, Timea Babos, Yulia Putintseva, Irina-Camelia Begu, Eugenie Bouchard
Defending champion: Cagla Buyukakcay

TOP 20 PLAYERS’ SCHEDULES:

1. Angelique Kerber: Monterrey, Stuttgart
2. Serena Williams
3. Karolina Pliskova: Stuttgart
4. Dominika Cibulkova: Stuttgart
5. Simona Halep: Stuttgart
6. Garbiñe Muguruza: Stuttgart
7. Johanna Konta
8. Agnieszka Radwanska: Stuttgart
9. Svetlana Kuznetsova: Stuttgart
10. Venus Williams: Charleston
11. Madison Keys: Charleston, Stuttgart
12. Caroline Wozniacki: Charleston
13. Elina Svitolina: Istanbul
14. Elena Vesnina: Charleston, Stuttgart
15. Petra Kvitova
16. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: Monterrey
17. Samantha Stosur: Charleston, Stuttgart
18. Barbora Strycova: Biel, Stuttgart
19. Kristina Mladenovic: Stuttgart
20. Timea Bacsinszky

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:

Madison Brengle (USA) – April 3, 1990
Asia Muhammad (USA) – April 4, 1991
Darija Jurak (CRO) – April 5, 1984
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) – April 7, 1990
CiCi Bellis (USA) – April 8, 1999