Former tournament winner Mariana Duque-Mariño is one of the crowd’s favourites at the Claro Open Colsanitas WTA tournament. Photo: Colsanitas press office
Professional women’s tennis comes to Colombia again for the Claro Open Colsanitas 250 tournament. The only professional tennis tournament to be hosted in Colombia will be played at Club Los Lagartos this week.
Some of the world’s top tennis players are in Bogotá competing for the 250 ranking points and the biggest chunk of the USD$250,000 prize pot. Unfortunately three of the leading lights The tournament is decimated after Daria Kasatkina the highest ranked player at number twelve in the world dropped out at the last minute due to an injury. Former world number five and Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard had the same faith as well as title holder Francesca Schiavone.
Claro Open Colsanitas WTA 250
Club Los Lagartos Calle 116 #72a-80
Games every day from Saturday April 7 to Sunday April 15
Tickets and more info via: copawtabogota.com
All eyes are now on Mariana Duque-Mariño, the Colombian hope at the tournament. Last year she was in tears after her first round defeat, openly doubting whether she wanted to play in her hometown again or whether the pressure she puts on herself is too much. The 2010 tournament winner decided she couldn’t miss out on the chance to play in front of her fans and is the highest ranked Colombian in the tournament.
The other players to keep an eye out for are the two promising young Colombian talents. 17-year-old Emiliana Arango got to the semifinals of the girls US Open in 2017 and is one of the up-and-coming stars, as well as 16-year-old María Camila Osorio, currently ranked fifth in the girls world ranking.
Related: Davis Cup: Colombia vs Croatia in Plaza Santamaria
Maria Fernanda Herazo benefitted from the withdrawal of the several players, the 21-year-old from Barranquilla was admitted to the main draw. Irina Falconi also entered the main draw, the American player who was born in Ecuador has won one tournament in her career and that was in Bogotá in 2016, so she can certainly handle the altitude.
Find the updated order of play here
