Wimbledon 2024: 5 Players to Look Out For at Women’s Singles Qualifiers

The women’s qualifying round of Wimbledon, the oldest and the most important tennis tournament in the world, begins on Tuesday, June 25. On the Roehampton courts, 128 players will compete for one of 16 qualifying spots in the main draw as well as a guaranteed 60,000-pound check in prize money.

In 1999, American Alexandra Stevenson advanced to the main draw and reached the semifinals. Is it possible for someone to accomplish the same feat this year, or maybe emulate Emma Raducanu’s successful Grand Slam qualifying career?

Let’s have a look at five players to watch out for at Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Qualifiers

1. Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova is one of the most natural ball strikers in women’s tennis. The American strikes the ball with a combination of effortlessness and force.

Even at the young age of 22, Anisimova has already experienced both the highs and lows of the game, including the death of her father and taking a year off from competition due to burnout and mental health issues. Her highs include two WTA titles, a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon, and a French Open semi-final.

The American returned to the tour in January after an eight-month absence and advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open. Although Anisimova is only 6-7 for the season, she is a player to watch at Roehampton because of her much more balanced approach to life and her job.

In the first round, she faces Greek player Valentini Grammatikopoulou in the second round, she might face fourth seed Hailey Baptiste. In her attempt to secure a spot in the Wimbledon main draw, she may face 25th seed Eva Lys in the third round.

2. Alycia Parks

Alycia Parks has long been on the radar. Following her victory in Lyon, France, in February of last year, the 23-year-old American immediately rose into the top 40 rankings in the world.

Her best Slam performance to date came in January when she made it to the third round of the Australian Open, but she lost 13 straight games after that. Only a first-round qualifying victory at the French Open last month ended that run.

She would, however, be feeling much better after returning to the headlines with her victory in Sunday’s WTA $125K title match on grass in Gaiba, Italy.

In the opening round, Parks, who along with Venus Williams has the fastest serve in a women’s Grand Slam match, takes on Katarzyna Kawa of Poland. She could play in a challenging group that also features 15-year-old British hope Hannah Klugman, where she could face 12th seed Darja Semenistaja in the second round and 28th seed Linda Fruhvirtova in the third round.

3. Katie Volynets

Though she was barely on the direct entry list a few weeks ago, 22-year-old Katie Volynets has climbed to No. 71 in the most recent world rankings. The American claimed victory on clay in a WTA $125K event held in Croatia earlier this month, and last week, he prevailed in a match played on grass in Birmingham.

In her opening match, Volynets, who is ranked first in the qualifying draw, will face Francisca Jorge of Portugal. The 19th seed Jana Fett in the third round and the 2023 junior champion Clervie Ngounoue in the second round could be her opponents.

4. Rebecca Marino

The slippery grass is ideal for Rebecca Marino’s style of play. The Canadian enjoys playing aggressive tennis and possesses a huge serve. She now has a decent deal of experience to support her as well.

The 33-year-old should feel more confident going into the qualifying draw after winning an ITF W100 title in Ilkley over the weekend. She will face the No. 20 seed and American McCartney Kessler in a difficult opening-round match. In an attempt to earn one of the qualifying spots, she might play the rising Australian Maya Joint, who is eighteen, in the second round. Then, she might take on Renata Zarazua, the third seed.

5. Harmony Tan

In what ended up being Serena Williams’ final match at the All England Club, Harmony Tan of France pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history two years ago by defeating the American in a third-set tiebreak.

Although Tan advanced to the fourth round over those two weeks, her career did not take the turn she had hoped for. Since then, the 26-year-old is still seeking her maiden Grand Slam triumph in the main draw. The Frenchwoman, who has an 8-2 record on grass in the ITF circuit, is coming into this week having won an ITF W50 event in March, which is her best finish since her incredible run.

She would need to defeat sixth seed Maria Timofeeva and 21st seed Marina Bassols Ribera in her division to advance to the main draw after facing Elvina Kalieva in the first round.

Also Read: Wimbledon 2024: 5 Players to Look Out For at Men’s Singles Qualifiers