2024 Rabat Open DRAW headlined by Yue Yuan, Anna Blinkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo after big name cull

Morocco, has been announced. This tournament will serve as the final stop for players before the French Open, with Yue Yuan, Anna Blinkova, and Sara Sorribes Tormo as the top seeds.

Bianca Andreescu was set to make her return to the courts in Rabat after a nine-month hiatus since her last match, a first-round defeat to Camila Giorgi at the Canadian Open on 8 August 2023. However, her return has been delayed due to a last-minute withdrawal.

The tournament features five top-50 players, led by World No. 36 Yue Yuan. The Chinese player was the surprise package at the recent Indian Wells, reaching the quarter-finals with stunning victories over Zheng Qinwen and Daria Kasatkina before falling to Coco Gauff. Two of her compatriots are also among the seeds: Lin Zhu (8th seed) and Wang Xiyu (6th).

Other top contenders include Anna Blinkova (No. 45), Spanish clay specialist Sara Sorribes Tormo (No. 46), and Italians Elisabetta Cocciaretto (No. 52) and the 2023 champion Lucia Bronzetti (No. 47). Notable participants also include two former French Open semi-finalists, Martina Trevisan (No. 88) and Nadia Podoroska (No. 59).

Just days ago, the organisers of the Grand Prix de Son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem announced wild cards for notable players Paula Badosa and Simona Halep, adding to the star-studded main draw that included Andreescu. However, none of them will compete in the tournament. Badosa, struggling with back injuries, decided to withdraw to ensure her fitness for Roland Garros.

Former World No. 1 Simona Halep played this week at the WTA 125 in Paris, debuting against McCartney Kessler. The Romanian won the first set and was fighting to maintain parity in the second when she felt discomfort in her knee, forcing her to retire with the score at 7-5, 2-3. Subsequently, Halep decided to withdraw from Rabat. They join Greet Minnen and Jaqueline Cristian in missing the tournament.