Rabat 2023: Women's draw, schedule, players, prize money & more | Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem
The Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem 2023 will commence on May 21 and we are in for an exciting week of tennis action in Rabat, Morocco.
Martina Trevisan won last year's tournament by beating Claire Liu in the final. The Italian is seeded first this year and will be expected to defend her title. However, the likes of Sloane Stephens, Mayar Sherif, Alycia Parks and Yulia Putintseva are all capable of challenging for the trophy.
On that note, here is everything you need to know about the WTA 250 event.
What is the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem?
The Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem is a claycourt tournament which is a part of the WTA 250 series. The inaugural edition of the event took place in 2001 with Hungary's Zsofia Gubacsi winning it by defeating Maria Elena Camerin in the final.
So far, no player has won the tournament on multiple occasions, with past champions being Elina Svitolina, Maria Sakkari and Francesca Schiavone.
Venue
The Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem will be held at the Club des Cheminots in Rabat, Morocco.
Players
Defending champion Martina Trevisan is the top seed at the WTA 250 event and will be eager to become the first player to triumph on multiple occasions. The Italian has had some good moments this season and will be a heavy favorite to win in Rabat. She will start her title defense against Nuria Parrizas Diaz in the first round.
Second seed Sloane Stephens is also among the favorites to win the tournament. The American recently won a WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo and will be expected to do well in Morocco. She will face former World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva in the opening round.
Third seed Mayar Sherif reached the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open a few weeks back and will also be expected to have a good run at the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem. The likes of Alycia Parks, Leylah Fernandez and Yulia Putintseva will all compete in the tournament and are capable of challenging for the title.
Schedule
The qualifying rounds started on May 20 and will conclude on May 21, which is also when the main draw will begin.
The quarterfinals are scheduled to take place on May 25 while the semifinals will be held on May 26. The women's singles final is set to take place on May 27.
Prize Money
The total prize money for the tournament is $259,303. The winner will pocket $43,000 along with 250 ranking points.
Where to Watch
Viewers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia can watch the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem live on the following channels and sites:
USA: All matches will be broadcast on Tennis Channel.
UK: UK viewers can catch all the action live on Prime Video.
Australia: All matches will be telecast on beIN Sports.
Canada: Viewers in Canada can watch all the matches on TSN.