Week in preview: Tennis stars shift focus to clay with tournaments kicking off in Charleston and Houston
The Charleston Open is the biggest tennis tournament happening this week. The WTA 500 event features four top-10 players along with a couple of Grand Slam champions, namely Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova.
The other WTA event taking place this week is the Copa Colsanitas, which is being held in Bogota, Colombia.
The ATP tour has a couple of 250 tournaments scheduled as well. The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships feature a competitive draw with a host of top-40 players. The tournament is being conducted in Houston, USA and 2022 Indian Wells Masters champion Taylor Fritz leads the pack. Also competing are 2022 Australian Open doubles champion Nick Kyrgios, Reilly Opelka and John Isner.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is the only top-10 player competing on the men's side this week. The Canadian is participating in the Grand Prix Hassan II, which is being held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Here's a preview of all the action happening this week:
Charleston Open - WTA 500
The Charleston Open draw lost some of its sheen as Grand Slam champions withdrew in quick succession. Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek pulled out of the event for various reasons.
However, it's a testament to the depth of the women's tour that there are still plenty of high-profile names competing.
Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed at the Charleston Open, followed by top-10 players Paula Badosa, Karolina Pliskova and Ons Jabuer. Former Grand Slam winners Petra Kvitova and Sloane Stephens are in the mix as well.
Defending champion Veronika Kudermetova has been in fine form this year and will look to win consecutive titles here.
Main Draw, here we come! ♨️
Qualifying spots still to be filled in (tomorrow) but here is our official main draw as it stands right now 👇
#CharlestonOpen https://t.co/bfEWF8jXl6
Belinda Bencic and Jessica Pegula, both semifinalists at the recently concluded Miami Open, are also in the fray.
Copa Colsanitas - WTA 250
Defending champion Camila Osorio is the only top-40 player participating in the Copa Colsanitas and is the top seed. Beatriz Haddad Maia, Rebecca Peterson and Panna Udvardy round out the top four seeds.
Former finalist Astra Sharma is also competing. Harriet Dart, who reached the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open, is in contention as well.
Former Roland Garros finalist Sara Errani, along with Dayana Yastremska and Stefanie Vogele, are other players of note who are competing at the Copa Colsanitas.
U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships - ATP 250
The tournament is taking place for the first time since 2019. World No. 7 Casper Ruud was the top seed, but withdrew from the tournament. His spot in the draw will be taken by a lucky loser.
2022 Indian Wells winner Taylor Fritz leads the pack in his absence. Nick Kyrgios, who has performed quite well over the past month, is set to play on clay for the first time since 2019. John Isner and Reilly Opelka are also contenders for the title.
Welcome back, champ 😍
Glad to have you here, @Garin_Cris
#USClay https://t.co/ISohJZiVVx
Jenson Brooksby has continued to make waves with his results in recent months and will look to continue his progress in Houston. Defending champion Cristian Garin has had a forgettable year so far and will be hoping for a change in fortunes.
Grand Pix Hassan II - ATP 250
The tournament is being held for the first time since 2019 as the pandemic forced the organizers to cancel the last two editions.
World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime is the top seed. The Canadian performed rather poorly in Indian Wells and Miami after a brilliant start to the year. Auger-Aliassime will be keen for a fresh start on clay after his disappointing run of results in recent times.
World No. 26 Daniel Evans is the second seed. Benoit Paire was the defending champion, but withdrew prior to the start of the tournament.
There are plenty of claycourt specialists in action as well. Albert Ramos-Vinolas has already won a title on red dirt earlier this year at the Cordoba Open. Federico Delbonis is a former champion at this tournament, having won the title in 2016. Laslo Djere and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina could also spring a surprise.
Tennis fans will be spoilt for choice this week as four tournaments will take place simultaneously to signal the commencement of the clay season.