2023 WTA Main Draw Debuts
Photos: The players contesting their first WTA main draw in 2023
Eight players made their WTA main-draw debuts across Rabat and Strasbourg this week, including Rabat semifinalist Julia Riera and Sada Nahimana, the first Burundian to compete at this level. Twenty-one players have now competed in a WTA main draw for the first time in 2023.
01
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No.321-ranked Malene Helgø made her tour-level debut at the United Cup as the Norwegian No.2, where she kept Martina Trevisan on court for over three hours in her second meeting with a Top 30 opponent.
Photo by Jimmie48/WTA
02
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Gergana Topalova, 22, competed as a substitute for Bulgaria at the United Cup. The World No.324 took Elise Mertens to three sets in her first meeting with a Top 100 player.
Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images
03
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No.193-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 20, was a substitute on the Spanish United Cup team, and was victorious on her debut over Olivia Gadecki.
Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis/Getty Images
04
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Doubles No.30 Erin Routliffe, 27, made her singles tour debut at home in Auckland as a wild card. The New Zealander fell in three sets to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round.
Photo by ASB Classic
05
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Talia Gibson, 18, cut her ranking from No.1200 to No.364 over the course of 2022 with a 50-21 record. The Australian received a wild card for Hobart, falling to Tatjana Maria in the first round.
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
06
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No.182-ranked Polina Kudermetova, 19, came through her first Grand Slam qualifying event at the Australian Open. The younger sister of Veronika fell to Olivia Gadecki in Round 1.
Photo by Jimmie48/WTA
07
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Having rocketed from unranked to No.105 in the previous 15 months, 18-year-old Diana Shnaider qualified for the Australian Open and made Round 2, where she took Maria Sakkari to three sets.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
08
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Unranked just nine months ago, 18-year-old Lanlana Tararudee rocketed to No.365 after winning the Nonthaburi ITF W40 in January. The Thai teenager received a wild card into Hua Hin, falling to Mirjam Bjorklund in Round 1.
Photo by 2023 Thailand Open presented by E@
09
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Unranked American Fiona Crawley, 21, received a Charleston wild card after compiling a 35-1 season record playing for the University of North Carolina and becoming the No.1-ranked college player in the U.S.
Photo by Charleston Tennis LLC
10
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Rosa Vicens Mas, 22, has cut her ranking from No.431 to No.186 over the past year after winning three ITF W25 titles. The Spaniard qualified for Bogota and fell to Peyton Stearns in Round 1.
Photo by Copa Colsanitas
11
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Former Top 50 junior Antonia Samudio, 22, received a wild card for her home tournament in Bogota. The No.1077-ranked Colombian fell to Laura Pigossi in Round 1.
Photo by Copa Colsanitas
12
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Two Italians received wild cards to make their WTA main draw debuts in Rome. Diletta Cherubini, 20, has cut her ranking from No.764 at the end of 2021 to her current No.421, and fell in Round 1 to Lisa Pigato.
Photo by Foro Archivio FITP
13
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No.508-ranked Dalila Spiteri, 26, was the winner of the pre-qualifying tournament in Rome for a wild card, and fell to Caty McNally in the first round.
Photo by Jimmie48/WTA
14
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Argentina's Julia Riera, 20, came into Rabat having won 17 of her past 18 matches and cut her ranking from No.507 to No.195 over the previous 12 months. She went all the way to the semifinals via upsets of Mayar Sherif and Yulia Putintseva.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
15
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No.255-ranked Sada Nahimana, 22, became the first Burundian player to contest a WTA main draw in Rabat. The former junior No.12 fell to Jana Fett in Round 1.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
16
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Having cut her ranking from No.1194 to No.278 over the previous 12 months, Tatiana Prozorova qualified for Rabat. The 19-year-old took Tatjana Maria to three sets in Round 1.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
17
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No.289-ranked Angela Fita Boluda, 23, was a lucky loser in Rabat. The Spaniard, champion at the 2022 Brescia ITF W60, put up a good fight against Leylah Fernandez in Round 1.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
18
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Two promising Moroccan teenagers received wild cards for Rabat. Malak El Allami, 16, is the junior No.45 and fell 6-3, 6-3 to Kamilla Rakhimova in Round 1.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
19
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Aya El Aouni, the junior No.29, also received a Rabat wild card. The 17-year-old Moroccan fell 6-1, 6-4 to Yulia Putintseva in Round 1.
Photo by Mathias Schulz/WTA
20
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France's Sarah Iliev, 16, was a qualifying wild card in Strasbourg and made it to the main draw via wins over Ellen Perez and Bai Zhuoxuan. The World No.686 fell to Lauren Davis in Round 1.
Photo by Christoph de Barry/C'est qui Maurice?
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