Charleston (USA) – The start of the Charleston WTA 500 dispute defined the opponents of the main key heads. Names like Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Daria Kasatkina and current champion Belinda Bencic already know who they will face in the second round of the tournament on har-tru (green clay) courts.

World number 3, Pegula faces Russian Anna Blinkova, who beat Hungarian Anna Bondar 7/6 (9-7) 6/2. The current 63rd in the standings will be an unprecedented opponent in the career of the experienced 29-year-old American.

Second-seed Ons Jabeur, world No. 5 and last year’s runner-up, faces 77th-ranked Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, who scored a 6-1 brace over Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea. The Tunisian lost the only previous duel against Tsurenko, played in 2018 during the Dubai qualifiers.

First main draw win on clay 💚

Katherine Sebov wins against Davis, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/6da1hfzpeX

– wta (@WTA) April 3, 2023

Belinda Bencic’s attempt to defend the title won last year will begin with a duel against Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov, 148th in the ranking, who beat North American Lauren Davis by 4/6, 6/1 and 6/ 2. During qualifying, Sebov also overtook Brazilian Gabriela Cé and host Francesca Di Lorenzo.

The debut of Daria Kasatkina, champion of 2017, will face the North American Madison Brengle, executioner of the Estonian Kaia Kanepi by 6/3 and 6/4. Also on Monday, the Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, 17, ranked 60th in the world, beat the Swiss Jil Teichmann, seeded 14th in the tournament, by 6/2, 3/6 and 6/2. Fruhvirtova now awaits the winner between German Sabine Lisicki and North American Caroline Dolehide.

In R2 in Charleston once again 😤

Linda Fruhvirtova knocks out No. 14 seed Teichmann, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/9pj6cDaquJ

– wta (@WTA) April 3, 2023