Eight of the world's Top 10 players will head to Berlin, Germany for the ecotrans Ladies Open, this year's first WTA 500 grass-court tournament. The German capital has been hosting the significant stop in the grass-court swing since 2021.
Here are the facts and figures you need to know about the 2024 ecotrans Ladies Open:
When does the tournament start?
Main-draw action at the week-long event kicks off on Monday, June 17 and continues through Sunday, June 23.
The qualifying rounds take place the weekend before, Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16.
How big are the fields?
The singles main draw boasts a 28-player field, with the top four seeds receiving first-round byes. 18 players receive direct entry, with six qualifiers and four wild cards completing the singles field.
The doubles main draw consists of 16 teams, including two wild-card pairings.
The Slazenger Wimbledon ball will be used at the event.
When are the finals?
The singles final will be contested on Sunday, June 23 at noon, with the doubles final to follow.
Berlin is on Central European Summer Time (GMT+2).
What does the draw look like?
Main draw in Berlin (WTA 500) where Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula are the top seeds.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 15, 2024
No.6 seed Zheng Qinwen will open against Naomi Osaka. pic.twitter.com/LZaHH1LnV1
Who were last year's champions?
Petra Kvitova won her 31st career singles title (sixth on grass) with a 6–2, 7–6(6) win over Donna Vekic in last year's Berlin final. Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova will not be back to defend her title, as she is pregnant and on maternity leave.
Caroline Garcia and Luisa Stefani won last year's Berlin doubles title by defeating Katerina Siniakova and Marketa Vondrousova 4–6, 7–6(8), [10–4]. Garcia and Stefani saved three match points in the second-set tiebreak before hoisting the trophy.
Who is playing?
Seeded players:
1. Coco Gauff
Ranking: 2
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 30-9 (1 title in 2024)
2023 grass-court W-L: 4-3 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Eastbourne semifinals)
2. Aryna Sabalenka
Ranking: 3
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 29-8 (1 title in 2024)
2023 grass-court W-L: 6-2 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Wimbledon semifinals)
3. Elena Rybakina
Ranking: 4
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 34-6 (3 titles in 2024)
2023 grass-court W-L: 5-2 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Wimbledon quarterfinals)
4. Jessica Pegula
Ranking: 5
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 13-7
2023 grass-court W-L: 6-2 (Best 2023 grass-court results: Eastbourne and Wimbledon quarterfinals)
Back at it 😀
— wta (@WTA) June 11, 2024
The top seed @JPegula picks up her first win as she returns to play after being out due to injury.#LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/nRqDDKKy1c
5. Marketa Vondrousova
Ranking: 6
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 15-9
2023 grass-court W-L: 9-1 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Wimbledon champion)
6. Zheng Qinwen
Ranking: 8
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 18-10
2023 grass-court W-L: 0-3
7. Maria Sakkari
Ranking: 9
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 19-10
2023 grass-court W-L: 4-3 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Berlin semifinals)
8. Ons Jabeur
Ranking: 10
2024 WTA Tour-level W-L: 12-11
2023 grass-court W-L: 7-3 (Best 2023 grass-court result: Wimbledon final)
this rally had it all 🤩#RothesayOpen pic.twitter.com/NESSI3B6LJ
— wta (@WTA) June 11, 2024
Former World No.1 players Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber have received wild cards into the main draw.
Beyond the eight projected seeded players, the other direct entries into the main draw include: Daria Kasatkina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Liudmila Samsonova, Marta Kostyuk, and Victoria Azarenka.
Both Roland Garros finalists, World No.1 Iga Swiatek and World No.7 Jasmine Paolini, withdrew from the event on Wednesday. Emma Navarro and Anna Kalinskaya took their places as direct entries into the main draw.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova withdrew on Thursday due to a continuing wrist injury. Linda Noskova took her place as a main-draw direct entry.
The former Berlin champions in the field are Ons Jabeur (2022) and Liudmila Samsonova (2021).
What are the points and prize money on offer in the singles main draw?
How did last year's grass-court swing play out?
Here's a look at the champions and finalists from last year's Hologic WTA Tour grass-court events:
Nottingham (WTA 250): Katie Boulter d. Jodie Burrage
‘s-Hertogenbosch (WTA 250): Ekaterina Alexandrova d. Veronika Kudermetova
Berlin (WTA 500): Petra Kvitova d. Donna Vekic
Birmingham (WTA 250): Jelena Ostapenko d. Barbora Krejcikova
Eastbourne (WTA 500): Madison Keys d. Daria Kasatkina
Bad Homburg (WTA 250 last year; WTA 500 this year): Katerina Siniakova d. Lucia Bronzetti
Wimbledon (Grand Slam): Marketa Vondrousova d. Ons Jabeur