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2024 Libema Open 's-Hertogenbosch ATP and WTA Preview featuring Pegula, Andreescu, De Minaur, Osaka and Paul
ATPSunday, 09 June 2024 at 17:33
With the draws now confirmed, the attention can shortly turn towards the grass court season which begins on June 10 with the Libema Open 's-Hertogenbosch as ever opening proceedings in Rosmalen in the Netherlands.
It is a joint draw with the ATP and WTA both taking place over the same week on the 250 scale with a good field in both despite withdrawals affecting both. The WTA less so which is led by Jessica Pegula as well as the defending champion Ekaterina Alexandrova. Alex de Minaur and Tommy Paul play the men's event initially headlined by Daniil Medvedev.
Pegula, Andreescu and Osaka set to headline WTA crop
A tournament whilst top heavy when it comes to seeds is perhaps full of big names in the periphery with Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu both unseeded but both joining Jessica Pegula at the top of the draw in Rosmalen.
Pegula will make her first appearance since April in what she hopes will be a triumphant return to the tour. She is well known as Miss Consistency on the WTA Tour and is never usually injured. Albeit it is fairly unknown what injury she suffered. She had a setback after not playing Stuttgart due to a tight turnaround and has not played since the Billie Jean King Cup.
Albeit the signs at least from the Pegula camp are positive. She decided against playing Roland Garros citing that she needed a week more in order to get right and would've played had that been the case. So she should in theory be raring to go in order to play this week in Rosmalen.
It is a good draw for Pegula with Veronika Kudermetova who is in no form at all the likely seed in her section. She opens up against Zhuoxuan Bai with Arantxa Rus in the second round potentially.
Whilst Naomi Osaka also plays on grass for the first time since 2019 with the former World No.1 usually avoiding the surface. She was mobbed by fans after her practice as the global sporting star continues her comeback under the radar playing smaller events in the run-up to Wimbledon. It is a tactic that is needed too with Osaka losing her protected ranking. She likely has to play Wimbledon qualifying so will hope for a bump up with a good run this week and has also signed up for further grass court events in the coming weeks.
Naomi Osaka continues tennis comeback and first grass action in many years.
But she may need it, she is facing Elise Mertens in the first round and feasibly could take on Bianca Andreescu in the latter half of the tournament. The former US Open champion made her big return during the French Open. She made a big impression after nearly a year away. She reached the third round losing to Jasmine Paolini. Opening up against a qualifier, Andreescu who soaked up the sights of Amsterdam in the run-up will then likely face Diana Shnaider or Yue Yuan. Then Osaka's route gets slightly easier if she gets through, she would likely face Bernarda Pera and then maybe Andreescu.
Liudmila Samsonova is second seed and faces Alison van Uytvanck in the first round. Whilst Ekaterina Alexandrova is third seed and also defending champion in this tournament. She faces Arina Rodionova, the current Australian no.1. The winner could face Anna Blinkova. Magda Linette also sits in that section and could take on Clara Tauson or Jule Niemeier.
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De Minaur, Paul and Griekspoor lead men's tournament
In the men's event, they suffered the blow that Daniil Medvedev won't play. He decided against playing in s'Hertogenbosch after Roland Garros. So won't open up his grass court endeavours in the Netherlands. Instead Alex de Minaur leads the seeds.
Seven players from the top 30 will be competing. The top four seeds are De Minaur, Tommy Paul, Ugo Humbert and Karen Khachanov. They all receive byes into the second round. Notable first round matches feature Milos Raonic taking on Jordan Thompson. Tallon Griekspoor is defending champion on home soil. He returns to defend his title.
He takes on Miomir Kecmanovic to open his tournament. Whilst Botic van de Zandschulp who seemingly hasn't quit tennis despite seemingly to be on the verge of doing so could face him. He takes on Mackenzie McDonald. Alex de Minaur could await former champion and previous Wimbledon dark horse who quickly faded away in Tim van Rijthoven. Seen as being a potential shining light in the haze of Dutch talent lacking, he has since dealt with a lot of injury.
Tommy Paul among the top seeds at the 2024 Libema Open s'Hertogenbosch
Tommy Paul could face Alexei Popyrin or Rinky Hijikata. But it is Humbert who likely faces the best tie. He takes on either Arthur Fils or Arthur Cazaux. Adrian Mannarino could face Jakub Mensik or Roberto Carballes Baena. Whilst for Sebastian Korda, it is David Goffin or Luca Nardi. Some top ties despite the withdrawals and a real good start to the grass court season. With Queen's the week after, it acts as a real quality pre-cursor to Wimbledon and a hotly anticipated men's draw at that.
WTA (Women's Singles) Finals and Winners:
- 2023: Ekaterina Alexandrova def. Veronika Kudermetova 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(3)
- 2022: Ekaterina Alexandrova def. Aryna Sabalenka 7–5, 6–0
- 2021: Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2020: Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2019: Alison Riske def. Kiki Bertens 0–6, 7–6(3), 7–5
- 2018: Aleksandra Krunić def. Kirsten Flipkens 6–7(0), 7–5, 6–1
- 2017: Anett Kontaveit def. Natalia Vikhlyantseva 6–2, 6–3
- 2016: Coco Vandeweghe def. Kristina Mladenovic 7–5, 7–5
- 2015: Camila Giorgi def. Belinda Bencic 7–5, 6–3
- 2014: Coco Vandeweghe def. Zheng Jie 6–2, 6–4
ATP (Men's Singles) Finals and Winners:
- 2023: Tallon Griekspoor def. Jordan Thompson 6–7(4), 7–6(3), 6–3
- 2022: Tim van Rijthoven def. Daniil Medvedev 6–4, 6–1
- 2021: Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2020: Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2019: Adrian Mannarino def. Jordan Thompson 7–6(7), 6–3
- 2018: Richard Gasquet def. Jérémy Chardy 6–3, 7–6(5)
- 2017: Gilles Müller def. Ivo Karlović 7–6(5), 7–6(4)
- 2016: Nicolas Mahut def. Gilles Müller 6–4, 6–4
- 2015: Nicolas Mahut def. David Goffin 7–6(1), 6–1
- 2014: Roberto Bautista Agut def. Benjamin Becker 2–6, 7–6(2), 6–4
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