The Transylvania Open has crowned a first-time WTA champion in each of the past two editions, and there is a likelihood that that trend will continue in 2024.
The draw for the tournament was recently released, and the WTA's unsung heroes will have the chance of a lifetime to pick up a rare title on tour. The top seed at the event is Arantxa Rus, a player outside the world's Top 40.
All 32 women in the field will begin their campaigns in the first round. Rus, who leads the top half, opens up against hard-hitting Greet Minnen. The winner will play either Yanina Wickmayer or a qualifier in the second round.
Almost half of the players competing in Cluj-Napoca have crossed the age of 30. That experience could prove critical should a scenario of playing a younger player ensue in the latter stages of the tournament.
Players competing will feel they have an equal chance of winning the title, but one of the big favorites will probably be Tatjana Maria, who, at 36, has a quirky style of play that opponents hate to play against.
Maria has won a WTA title in each of the past two seasons and has a golden chance to add to her trophy cabinet. The German veteran is the second seed and plays Zhuoxuan Bai in her opening match.
American Caty McNally will play a main draw match for the first time since 2023 Wimbledon after recovering from a longstanding injury. She plays Sara Errani on her comeback.
Former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova is the strongest name possible in the field, having played in two Grand Slam finals. But the big-serving Czech has recently fallen out of the Top 70. Pliskova begins her campaign against a qualifier.
Former World No. 11 Anastasija Sevastova is returning to tennis, playing her first WTA tournament since 2022. The Latvian takes on home player Andreea Mitu in the first round.
Defending champion Tamara Korpatsch could have her hands full against the fast-rising Elina Avanesyan, who shocked Maria Sakkari at the Australian Open.
The highlight of the first-round matches is certainly that one which pits Roman's Ana Bogdan against USA's Alycia Parks. The full draw for the 2024 Transylvania Open can be seen below.
2024 Transylvania Open Cluj WTA Draw:
| 1 | Arantxa Rus (1) |
| 2 | Greet Minnen |
| 3 | Qualifier/LL |
| 4 | Yanina Wickmayer |
| 5 | Anca Todoni (WC) |
| 6 | Qualifier/LL |
| 7 | Alycia Parks |
| 8 | Ana Bogdan (8) |
| 9 | Nadia Podoroska (9) |
| 10 | Clara Tauson |
| 11 | Miriam Bulgaru (WC) |
| 12 | Jacqueline Cristian |
| 13 | Anastasija Sevastova |
| 14 | Andreea Mitu (WC) |
| 15 | Tamara Korpatsch |
| 16 | Elina Avanesyan (6) |
| 17 | Elisabetta Cocciaretto (5) |
| 18 | Qualifier/LL |
| 19 | Qualifier/LL |
| 20 | Qualifier/LL |
| 21 | Laura Siegemund |
| 22 | Nuria Parrizas Diaz |
| 23 | Qualifier/LL |
| 24 | Anna Blinkova (3) |
| 25 | Viktoriya Tomova (7) |
| 26 | Camila Osorio |
| 27 | Karolina Pliskova |
| 28 | Qualifier/LL |
| 29 | Sara Errani |
| 30 | Caty McNally |
| 31 | Zhuoxuan Bai |
| 32 | Tatjana Maria (2) |
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