WHILE many might not look at a Challenger as a good source of form, the last two winners of the tournament – since its inception in 2018 – have gone on to become top 30 players. United States’ Danielle Collins and Bianca Andreescu have enjoyed strong careers in the short times since and look to have big futures on the WTA Tour.

FAVOURITE:

Jessica Pegula (USA)

The top seeded player is Jessica Pegula, ranked 66th in the world and coming off her first WTA Tour title last year in Washington. She has already made a final this year, reaching the ASB Classic final before going down to Serena Williams. In that tournament she knocked off Grand Slam winner Caroline Wozniacki, as well as Alize Cornet and Tamara Zidansek – all of whom were higher ranked. Pegula has good form here in Newport Beach, reaching last year’s final and winning the first set 6-0, before losing to Andreescu 0-6 6-4 6-2. Now with the Canadian injured, Pegula is the top favourite to go one better, though she does have a challenging draw.

CONTENDERS:

Taylor Townsend (USA)

The world number 79 is still only 23-years-old and while her first round exit at Auckland was not ideal, she would have taken a huge confidence booster by defeating Pegula in the opening round of the Australian Open. If those two face off in the final at Newport Beach, Townsend will have the mental edge, and the fact she went down in the second round to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who has made it all the way to a quarter final at Melbourne Park. Yet to win a WTA Tour title, Townsend reached the quarter finals here last year before going down to compatriot, Lauren Davis.

Christina McHale (USA)

A 27-year-old who has had an up-and-down career to-date, McHale is a former top 30 player who peaked back in 2012, aged 20. While she has not been able to fulfil some of the promise showed back then, McHale did show she can match it with the best on her day, going down in three sets to Serena Williams in Auckland this year. She won an ITF event in France last year, defeating Swiss duo, Timea Bacsinszky and Stefanie Voegele who were both ranked inside the top 120, as well as 84th ranked Bernarda Pera on her way to the title. At Newport Beach last year, McHale made the third round before going down to Tatjana Maria who is seeded again this year.

Madison Brengle (USA)

The American enters Newport Beach off the back of a three-set loss to Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in Round 1 at the Australian Open. Brengle had not played a main draw match since the US Open last year, but won at Pennsylvania and Berkeley on the ITF Tour, while losing the final in Charlottesville. She has good form on the American circuit, but had a tournament to forget here at Newport Beach 12 months ago, losing to Jennifer Brady in straight sets.

ROUGHIE:

Nicole Gibbs (USA)

Yet another American playing in her home nation, Gibbs reached the semi-finals at Limoges last year before going down to eventual winner and number one seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova. She beat two top 100 players on her way there though, and had some good wins last year including 32nd ranked Alison Riske in Osaka. Last year Gibbs made it to the quarter finals before going down to Tatjana Maria, where she lost 6-1 6-3. Unfortunately her form in 2020 has been down, failing to make the main draw of the Australian Open.

DARK HORSE:

Sara Errani (ITA)

An almost forgotten player, the former top five WTA Tour player has not lost her ability, but more-so age catching up with the 32-year-old. She has won nine titles in her career, but has not won a 250k event since Dubai back in 2016. Clay court is her preferred surface, making a Roland Garros final all the way back in 2012. She has struggled of late, touring the ITF circuit and claiming a victory at Tiro A Volo in her home nation, and did not play her 12 months ago. The definition of a dark horse if she can put it all together, but it will be tough given a second round encounter with number one seed, Pegula looms if Errani can win her first round mathch.