Bertens opens against 2017 finalist

The 32 ladies who play at Libéma Open 2018 know who will be their opponent in the first round. The draw on Saturday afternoon was conducted by Robin Haase. Title defender Anett Kontaveit, who will meet a qualifier in the first round, did the same for the gentlemen’s tournament.

Top seed on the Brabant grass courts is CoCo Vandeweghe. The American will meet Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Second seed this week is Elise Mertens. The 22-year-old Belgian will play against Polona Hercog from Slovenia.

The Netherlands is represented by third seed Kiki Bertens. The player from Wateringen is not lucky, she will meet Russia’s Natalia Vikhlyantseva, the losing finalist in 2017. Richel Hogenkamp is also playing in the main event, she received a wildcard. Her first opponent in Rosmalen will be sixth seeded Alison Van Uytvanck from  Belgium.

Bibiane Schoofs also received a wildcard and will have strong opposition in the first round from Germany’s Carina Witthoeft.

The main event will start on Monday 11 June.