2024 Palermo Ladies Open Draw featuring Qinwen Zheng, Karolina Muchova and Peyton Stearns

As the run-up to the Olympic Games begins after Wimbledon, the draw has been completed ahead of the Palermo Ladies Open which takes place between 15-21 July, 2024 in Italy.

Defending champion is Qinwen Zheng who en route to some of her best form of her career thus far last year had a pivotal stop off at Palermo to win her first title. As she sets her sights on the Olympic Games, she opens up her run-in at the Palermo Ladies Open. She will face Sara Errani in the first round then potentially Petra Martic.

Jaqueline Cristian is the seed in her section. She faces Julia Riera with Lucia Bronzetti or Elsa Jacquemot awaiting the winner in that part. Karolina Muchova is second seed and will continue her comeback to the sport after playing some grass court tennis warm-ups and Wimbledon. She reached the Roland Garros final so certainly has pedigree on the surface.

Also she will be defending her US Open final run in the coming month so form will be much needed. She faces a qualifier in both the first and second round. Ajla Tomljanovic or Anna Blinkova could await in the third round. Peyton Stearns is third seed. She is a title winner on clay winning her first title in Rabat earlier this season. She faces Ann Li to start then potentially Erika Andreeva. Arantxa Rus is the other seed in her section. Tatjana Maria and Diane Parry are the other top seeds in the draw.

The Palermo Ladies Open, held annually in Palermo, Italy, has a rich history of showcasing talented female tennis players on its outdoor clay courts. Here is a summary of the winners from the past few years:

2023: Zheng Qinwen from China captured her first WTA title by defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling three-set match, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. This victory was significant for Zheng, who became the 11th Chinese woman to win a WTA singles title. The win was particularly special for Zheng as she achieved her first WTA match victory and title in Italy.

2022: Irina-Camelia Begu from Romania clinched the title by overpowering Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-2. Begu's consistent performance and powerful play secured her the championship.

2021: Danielle Collins from the USA won her maiden WTA title by defeating qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse from Romania with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Collins' victory was notable as she did not drop a single set throughout the tournament, marking her as a formidable player on the clay courts of Palermo.

2020: Fiona Ferro from France emerged victorious against Estonia's Anett Kontaveit, winning 6-2, 7-5. Ferro's aggressive baseline play and consistency were key factors in her success during the tournament.

2019: Jil Teichmann from Switzerland won the title by defeating Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands in a hard-fought match, 7-6(7-3), 6-2. Teichmann's win was remarkable as she overcame one of the top-seeded players in the tournament.

The Palermo Ladies Open did not take place from 2014 to 2018, but it has since re-established itself as a prominent event in the WTA calendar. Historically, the tournament has been a platform for rising stars and first-time winners, contributing to its reputation as a crucial event for showcasing emerging talent in women's tennis.