The second round of the WTA Charleston tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle for tennis fans. As the clay court season begins, many players see this as a fresh start after the hardcourt swing, offering a prime opportunity to either build momentum or revive their season. With the French Open still months away, Charleston is a crucial event for players looking to fine-tune their clay-court game. Here are our insights for some of the key second-round matchups.
Match Previews
McCartney Kessler vs Janice Tjen
This will be the first professional meeting between McCartney Kessler and Janice Tjen. Both players are primarily known for their hardcourt prowess and have limited experience on clay. Kessler has a career clay record of 26 wins and 25 losses across 51 matches. Tjen, on the other hand, has played only 14 career matches on clay, all of which occurred in the current year, registering a single loss. Despite Tjen being favored due to her near-perfect clay record this year, Kessler’s more extensive, albeit mixed, experience on clay across multiple seasons might give her an edge. The consistency of playing on clay annually could be a significant factor in her favor, making Kessler a potential upset pick.
Katie Volynets vs Diana Shnaider
Katie Volynets and Diana Shnaider are set to face each other for the third time, with Shnaider holding a 2-0 lead in their head-to-head encounters, including a WTA-level match last year in Madrid. While Volynets demonstrates solid performance on clay, Shnaider’s record on this surface is notably stronger. Shnaider has previously reached the round of 16 twice at Charleston, a stage Volynets has yet to reach. Shnaider enters this match as a clear favorite, supported by her superior clay-court form and historical performance in this tournament. Volynets’ struggle in her first-round match against Eva Lys further reinforces Shnaider’s strong position, suggesting a likely victory for Shnaider.
Dayana Yastremska vs Belinda Bencic
Dayana Yastremska and Belinda Bencic will compete for the sixth time, with Bencic leading their head-to-head 4-1. Yastremska’s sole victory against Bencic dates back to the semifinals of WTA Luxembourg in 2018. Interestingly, this upcoming match will mark their very first encounter on a clay court, adding an intriguing element. Both players share similar career clay-court wins (87 each), but Yastremska has incurred 51 losses compared to Bencic’s 49. Last year, Bencic had a 3-3 record on clay, while Yastremska performed better with an 8-5 record. Despite Bencic being the higher-ranked player and the favorite, the clay surface could potentially act as an equalizer for Yastremska. Given their comparable records on clay and Yastremska’s slightly better clay performance last year, this match presents a compelling opportunity for an upset, suggesting Yastremska could be a valuable pick.
