Jabeur-Collins, Stephens-Fernandez highlight thrilling Wednesday action
It’s the reigning Charleston champion against the most in-form player on the Hologic WTA Tour.
Ons Jabeur opens her title defense at the Credit One Charleston Open on Wednesday evening (April 3) across the net from Miami Open winner Danielle Collins, who is on an eight-match winning streak after capturing the biggest title of her career.
MORE: Wednesday schedule | Updated draws
But theirs is one of a fistful of must-see second-round matches on Wednesday’s docket, with former champion Sloane Stephens set to go up against 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez in the second night match of the evening.
Before those two night-session battles however, a day session brimming with star power is set to unfold, featuring Grand Slam champions and veterans Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, and two local hopes in Emma Navarro and Shelby Rogers.
Former champions Daria Kasatkina (2017) and Veronika Kudermetova (2021) are also set to play, with Kudermetova to meet a resurgent Rogers.
Rogers and Navarro look to make it a banner day for the home fans, with the 10th-seeded Navarro taking on fellow American Katie Volynets, who saved two match points to win the longest WTA match of the 2024 season over Arantxa Rus in the first round across three hours and 43 minutes.
They’re due up second on Credit One Stadium, with Rogers-Kudermetova to follow. Wozniacki, the 2011 winner here, opens the day on that court, taking on the consistent No.15 seed Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine.
Wednesday. Day 3. YES PLEASE 🙌
It’ll be another scintillating lineup of action tomorrow in Charleston!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/dNX2Vik4Yn
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 2, 2024
On Althea Gibson Club Court, Azarenka will begin the day against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, followed by Kasatkina against big-hitting 19-year-old American Ashlyn Krueger.
Krueger is teaming up with Stephens this week in doubles, and says the older generation of more established American players like Sloane, Collins and Jessica Pegula have been welcoming and encouraging to the Missouri native by way of Texas.
Another big hitter from the States in Caroline Dolehide will take to the Club Court after Kasatkina-Krueger, the Illinois native looking to score an upset over Beatriz Haddad Maia, the fifth seed who took a late wild card into the event.
No.7 seed Elina Svitolina will face Daria Saville thereafter, the Ukrainian winning seven of their nine career meetings, though they haven’t played since 2019.
Court 3 should be packed for fan favorite Taylor Townsend, who meets No.6 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova second up. Townsend is set to team up with Madison Keys later in doubles in the final match of the day on Althea Gibson, taking on Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok.
