Meet the global competition!
Each of the five top players in the Volvo Car Open hail from five different countries – France, the Czech Republic, Russia, the U.S. and Germany. And, the next five seeds come from an additional three countries - Australia, Latvia and Japan. That’s healthy global competition!
Top seed - Caroline Garcia
The highest world ranked player in the field is Caroline Garcia of France. Garcia climbed to World No. 7 in 2017, breaking into the top ten for the first time. She still holds the same ranking, which remains a career high for the 24-year-old right-hander. Prior to Miami last week, where she had an early exit in the round of 64, this year she’s reached the round of 16 or better in every other tournament she entered. Her best result was reaching the quarters in Doha.
Will her early exit from Miami give her an advantage in Charleston, the first clay court tournament of the year, by giving her more time to practice and transition from the hardcourts to the clay? The hard-hitting baseline play of Garcia has served her well on clay, particularly in doubles, where in 2016 she won doubles clay championships in Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid, and Roland Garros (French Open).
Interesting fact: After her first career match, a loss at the French Open to Maria Sharapova in 2011, men’s top player Andy Murray predicted that Garcia would be a World No. 1 one day.
Second seed - Petra Kvitová
Second seeded Petra Kvitová of the Czech Republic is ranked World No. 9. Widely known for her Wimbledon success, the 28-year-old left-hander owns 14 career titles, including the two Wimbledon Grand Slam championships.
Kvitová is having a great 2018 season, coming into Charleston having already won two titles this year in St. Petersburg and Doha. She reached the Round of 16 this week in Miami, but lost to Jelena Ostapenko in a late night, rain interrupted match that went past midnight, 7-6, 6-3.
Interesting fact: Martina Navratilova was Kvitová’s tennis idol growing up because she’s a left-handed hitter like her.
Third seed - Daria Kasatkina
Defending Volvo Car Open Champion Daria Kasatkina of Russia is the third seed in the tournament and is currently ranked World No. 12. She dropped a spot from World No. 11 after losing in Miami’s round 64. Her No. 11 world ranking was the highest in her career.
Her best finish this year was second at Indian Wells. On her way to reaching the finals there, she beat World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki (6-4, 7-5) and then won a come-from-behind semi-final match against Venus Williams (4-5, 6-5, 7-5). She lost the championship match to Naomi Osaka in straight sets (6-3, 6-2). After she lost to Osaka, she addressed the crowd at Indian Wells, advising them, “Never give up. Believe in your dreams. And just keep going.”
A right-handed baseliner, this 20-year-old’s favorite surface is clay. If she follows her own advice from Indian Wells, look for her to go far toward defending her title!
Interesting fact: She loves soccer and pulls for her favorite team, FC Barcelona.
Fourth seed - Sloane Stephens
Still in the hunt in Miami, American Sloane Stephens comes to Charleston as the fourth seed, as a former champion here in 2016, and having just reached her career high ranking. As of press time, Stephens advanced into the quarterfinals in Miami, having defeated the third seed, Garbine Muguruza, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4).
The World No. 12, Stephens made a strong comeback toward the end of 2017, winning the U.S. Open title after missing much of 2017 with an injury (she was out of the game for 11 months).
Stephens lost to Kasatkina in the round of 16 earlier this year at Indian Wells, 6-4, 6-3. Like Kasatkina, Stephens is a former Charleston champion and her favorite surface is clay. Could we have a showdown between two former champions?
Interesting fact: Stephens showed glimpses of a promising broadcasting career after taking a seat behind the microphone during her long injury hiatus last year.
Fifth seed - Julia Goerges
The fifth seeded Julia Goerges opened the 2018 season in style, defeating then World No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki to earn the championship title at Auckland in early January.
The right-handed hitting German’s other top finishes this year include making it to the semi-finals in St. Petersburg and the quarters in Doha. Goerges, currently World No. 13, was ousted in the round of 32 at both Miami and Indian Wells.
Goerges is a strong server – she was the first player to hit 100 aces in 2018 and this year she is winning close to 84 percent of her service games.
Interesting fact: Her favorite singer is Michael Jackson.
Other players to watch
Not in the top five but playing a high level of tennis is seventh seed Madison Keys. The easy going American is ranked World No. 15. She’s had a good season, except for her last outing in Miami, but look for her to move into the driver’s seat at this year’s Volvo Car Open.
Sixth seeded Johanna Konta is also playing well, as are the eighth seed Anastasija Sevastova, the ninth seed Ashleigh Barty and the tenth seed Naomi Osaka. Osaka won Indian Wells and upset Serena Williams in the first round at Miami.
And, Charleston fan-favorite Samantha Stosur, who also lists Charleston as her favorite tournament, is never out of the hunt on Daniel Island.