Doubles Draw Delivers Surprises with No. 1 Seeds Knocked Out

In simple terms, it’s the veterans vs. the newcomers in Saturday’s two doubles semifinals at the Volvo Car Open.
No. 4 seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Alicja Rosolska will take on Anna-Lena Friedsam and Sara Sorribes Tormo, the latter duo partnering up for the first time.
MORE: Previewing Semifinal Saturday | Men’s Legends Event Features Wilander | Draws | Schedule
On the bottom half of the draw it’s the No. 2 seeds Lucie Hradecka and Andrea Klepac (pictured) taking on another first-time team in Irina Khromacheva and Veronika Kudermetova.
It’s been a roller-coaster ride in the doubles, which is always an abundant crowd favorite for fans throughout the week at the Family Circle Tennis Center.
It was Friedsam/Sorribes Tormo who took out the No. 1 seeds Nicole Melichar and Kveta Peschke in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the German-Spanish duo winning 7-6(1) 6-1.
They’ll meet another German in Groenefeld, an experienced veteran playing alongside another longtime top player in Rosolska, from Poland.
Groeneveld, 33, is playing here for a seventh time. She’s a three-time semi-finalist, having never made the last two.
On the bottom half, Khromacheva/Kudermetova, both from Russia, soared through their first match and then needed a match tie-break to beat the No. 3 seeds Raquel Atawo and Katarina Srebotnik, Srebotnik having won this title last year alongside Alla Kudryavtseva.
The headline-grabbers of the event may have been two local teens, however, as wild cards Chloe Beck (Watkinsville, GA) and Emma Navarro (Charleston) shocked Darija Jurak and Jelena Ostapenko 1-6 6-3 1-0 [13-11] in a first round match on the Althea Gibson Club Court to the delight of a packed crowd.
Beck/Navarro would fall short against Hradecka/Klepac, however, losing 6-3 6-2 on Friday morning.
Hradecka was a finalist here in 2017 while Klepac made the last two here just last year.
So, who advances to championship Sunday? It’s a wait-and-see in what has been a surprising week.
Related Articles
JESSICA PEGULA AND MADISON KEYS, TWO TOP-RANKED AMERICANS, ENTER 2024 CREDIT ONE CHARLESTON OPEN PLAYER FIELD
World No. 4 Pegula and World No. 12 Keys join Charleston field already showcasing four top 15 players...
Read moreCHARLESTON CHAMPIONS ONS JABEUR AND BELINDA BENCIC TO COMPETE IN THE 2024 CREDIT ONE CHARLESTON OPEN
Three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur and Olympic Gold Medalist Bencic enter Charleston tournament World...
Read moreJabeur seals Charleston title in 2022 rematch, exacting revenge on Bencic
Ons Jabeur just needed one more try at it. The 2022 runner-up here, Jabeur exacted revenge on reigning...
Read more