Daniel Island, SC–Most top-seeded players–and a Lucky Loser– advanced in the draw on Tuesday at the Charleston Open. Heavy rains in the area today will likely push the start of play to late afternoon, making for a long night of meaningful matches.
In the day session on Tuesday, Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins and Maria Sakkari won in straight set matches as big favorites on Stadium Court. On the outer courts, Townsend, Dolehide, Krueger and Cocciaretto advanced while 13 seed Dayana Yastremska was upset by Magda Linette in three sets. Lucky Loser Astra Sharma looked flawless in the second set as she beat Arina Rodionova, 6-4, 6-1.
The night session provided the less predictable. Jessica Pegula stayed poised after giving up the first set to Amanda Anisimova before the #1 seed edged her way to victory, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). Madison Keys has always had a love-hate relationship with this surface and became the highest ranked player to lose in the 2024 Charleston WTA 500 event, and did so before a fueled-up Jaqueline Cristian, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3..
Today’s sessions look to be a concentrated version of the best of the player field, with Caroline Wozniacki, Emma Navarro, Shelby Rogers, Vika Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, Elise Mertens and Beatriz Haddad Maia all scheduled on court. None of the mentioned players will compete against each other today. That’s why Danielle Collins vs. Ons Jabeur is the real prize fight scheduled for tonight. Collins hold the edge in meetings, 2-1, with the players last connection being a 6-2, 6-4 Collins win in Miami in 2022, and also notable was a 2020 victory for the American on the terre battue of Roland Garros over Jabeur.
DANIEL ISLAND, SC–Just four weeks ago, Ambassador Nikki Haley came to Daniel Island to end her presidential campaign. Like political races, tennis tournaments are cruel because only one of the 64 talented professional athletes will find unmitigated success by Sunday afternoon in the singles final. A few of the players took strides to muster on for the top prize after the first day of main draw play here and a few of them packed their bags.
Caroline Wozniacki, a 2011 Charleston champion, summoned some of the form that made her #1 in a 6-0, 6-1 win over McCartney Kessler. She played loose and in-form in the match. Seeded Anhelina Kalinina should be nervous about facing the Great Dane tomorrow in the round of 32.
Viktoriya Tomova, in her tournament debut, gutted out a three set win over Mayer Sherif, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 on Court 3 yesterday. Today, she’ll look for her first ever top 10 victory when she meets Maria Sakkari.
Daria Saville keeps on churning out wins in Charleston and she let out a primal roar on Althea Gibson court as she concluded the campaign of Tamara Korpatsch in a see-saw match with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 result. Elina Svitolina should have her hands full with this one tomorrow..
And congratulations to American Katie Volynets on winning the longest match of the WTA tour so far in this year’s campaign. It took her only three hours and forty-three minutes to overcome Arantxa Rus, 6-2, 6-7(6), 7-6(6). The match was so long it forced organizers to move the doubles match scheduled later on the court to the stadium. Her reward is ignominious with a second round match-up against 10 seed Emma Navarro.
The day session features Danielle Collins, fresh off her Miami title, squaring off against the dangerous Paula Badosa. If Tomova has anything left in the tank from yesterday, her match with Sakkari could be a gem. The night session opens with Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova, followed by Madison Keys and what could be a tough out against Jaqueline Cristian Who’s dropping out today?
DANIEL ISLAND, SC—Six qualifiers seized their spots in the main draw at the Charleston Open yesterday ahead of the beginning of play today at 11:00 a.m. The marquis matchup saw Daria Saville advance over Heather Watson, 6-3, 6-2. The Australian will face Tamara Korpatsch in Round 1 in what is a favorable draw for Saville. Should she advance, she will become Elina Svitolina’s first opponent of the 2024 Charleston campaign.
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Gabriela Lee mastered Astra Sharma on Court 3 yesterday afternoon in another match that involved improved play by the opponent in the second set. With the 6-2, 6-3 win behind her, Lee will rest up for a match against 19-year-old Ashlyn Kruger tomorrow.
Top qualifying seed Varvara Gracheva did her part to justify by top billing by handling Usue Arconada, 6-2, 6-4, in a match that felt closer than the scoreline. Gracheva doesn’t get a day off–she’ll take on wild card Clervie Ngounoue tonight on Stadium Court.
Also pulling through qualifying was Katie Volynets with a three set comeback win and a date against Arantxa Rus, and Claire Liu with her own three set comeback over Linda Fruhvirtova, setting up a match between the young American and Shelby Rogers tonight. Sachia Vickery thought she’d taken down compatriot McCartney Kessler in qualifying, but they’re both still playing. Vickery moves on to meet Jaqueline Cristian, while lucky loser Kessler faces Caroline Wozniacki on stadium court for what is arguably the match of the day.
Daniel Island, SC—Once again, we find ourselves between the Wando and Cooper Rivers at a majestic tennis stadium with lush surroundings on land that was a private hunting reserve for the Guggenheim family and foundation until 1996. The vibe is new meets old, and sometimes it feels like the whole community is contrived. Here, there is nothing contrived about the level of tennis and newer always meets older in qualifying.
Britain’s Heather Watson, at 31, is shockingly the oldest player in the qualifying field. She raced out to a 6-0 start, before easing past American Alana Smith, 6-0, 6-4. Watson will face Daria Saville tomorrow for a spot in the main draw, which is a marquee qualies matchup akin to a main draw match itself. In fact, the duo have squared off before in a round of 64 in Madrid in 2016 with Saville the victor, 7-5, 6-4.
Saville, the 30-year-old Australian, was a 6-1, 6-2 winner over American Grace Min.
Another Australian, Astra Sharma, bested younger American Jessie Aney, 6-0, 6-2 in the shortest match of the day at 44 minutes. Her quest for the main draw on Sunday will go through fellow 29-year-old Gabriela Lee, who outlasted Japan’s Mai Hontama, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Wild Card Usue Arconada survived a highly competitive straight sets contest over fellow American Elizabeth Mandlik, 7-5, 7-6(5) in a contest that lasted nearly two hours before a capacity crowd on recently enlarged Court 3 stands. The American needs to beat top qualifying seed Varvara Gracheva, who came back from a first set 6-4 loss to prevail over fellow 23-year-old Dalayna Hewitt of the US, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The scoreline for 22-year-old Katie Volynets win over Katherine Sebov looked easy at 6-3, 6-2. The match was more competitive than it appeared as there were long points throughout the first and second sets to extend it to an hour and 45 minutes. The winner of Ann Li and Robin Anderson will meet up with Volynets tomorrow.
The big winner of the day for the youth movement was Linda Fruhvirtova with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 marathon over Nicole Melichar-Martinez, 30. The 18-year-old phenom will advance to the Charleston big dance with a win tomorrow over Claire Lu.
American McCartney Kessler was also a winner on Saturday, 6-2, 6-1, and will face either Lauen Davis or Sachia Vickery in Round 2.
Player field highlighted by four Grand Slam champions, six Charleston champions and 10 top 20 players
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America, has announced its main draw wild cards ahead of the highly anticipated 52nd event, March 30 – April 7 on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina. The tournament has awarded wild cards to former World No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, World No. 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia, Charleston native Shelby Rogers and 2023 Wimbledon girls singles champion Clervie Ngounoue.
“We are excited to have an impressive lineup of wild cards this year, including former World No. 1 and past champion Caroline Wozniacki, Brazil’s Top 20 trailblazer Beatriz Haddad Maia, and the incredibly promising American young talent, Clervie Ngounoue,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “Caroline’s return to the courts in Charleston adds a layer of anticipation and nostalgia for our fans, while Beatriz’s breakthrough performances on the tour last year signal she’s a significant contender. Clervie represents the bright future of tennis at just 17 years old, and we can’t wait to see her compete on this grand stage. Their commitments emphasize our tournament’s reputation as a platform where legends, current champions, and future stars converge, promising a week of exciting tennis action for our fans.”
“Welcoming Shelby Rogers back to the courts at an event that holds special significance for her as a local player, means a great deal to our tournament and our fans,” said Moran. “Shelby’s determination to return to the game she loves is truly inspiring. It’s a moment of pride for us to see her compete in her hometown, and we look forward to supporting her throughout the tournament.”
To round out the field, six players will earn entry into the main draw via qualifying competition beginning March 30.
The 2024 tournament features a deep player field that includes four Grand Slam champions, six former Charleston champions, two former World No. 1’s and 10 top 20 players.
The wild cards join a field that is headlined by World No. 5 and 2023 Montreal champion Jessica Pegula, World No. 6, three-time Grand Slam finalist and 2023 Charleston champion Ons Jabeur and World No. 9 and 2023 Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari. In addition to Wozniacki, Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens have also entered the field.
2011 Charleston champion Wozniacki joins Jabeur (2023), Stephens (2016), Daria Kasatkina (2017), Madison Keys (2019) and Veronika Kudermetova (2021) as one of six former Charleston champions returning in pursuit of a second title on the green clay of the Credit One Stadium in April.
Wild Card Commitments:
Wozniacki formally retired in January 2020 after participating in the Australian Open to start a family. In August 2023, the mother of two made a return to professional tennis in Montreal. Shortly after her comeback, she advanced to the fourth round at the US Open. She has since reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells. She won the 2018 Australian Open and is a two-time US Open finalist. She holds 30 WTA titles, including the Charleston title in 2011. This will be her seventh time competing in the Charleston tournament, where she holds a 20-5 win/loss record. She reached the tournament’s finals in 2019 and 2009, semifinals in 2010 and quarterfinals in 2013 and 2017.
World No. 13 Haddad Maia will compete in Charleston’s main draw for the second time and first since 2018. Her 2023 season included reaching the semifinals of Roland-Garros and Abu Dhabi and quarterfinals of Adelaide, Doha, Stuttgart, Rome and San Diego. She also won her third singles title last year when she captured the WTA Elite Trophy title in Zhuhai. She reached a career high singles and doubles ranking of World No. 10 in 2023.
Charleston native Rogers has recently returned from an injury that has sidelined her since Wimbledon 2023. This will be 10th appearance in the Charleston main draw, where she made the quarterfinals in 2017. Rogers is a two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist having reached the final eight at the 2020 US Open and 2016 in Roland Garros.
Seventeen year old Ngounoue will compete in Charleston for the first time. She has won three girls’ Grand Slam titles – the 2023 Wimbledon girls’ singles champion title and the girls’ doubles title in 2023 at Roland Garros and 2022 at the Australian Open. She was the ITF’s No. 1 ranked junior in June 2023.
Additionally, Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from the tournament due to illness.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 28 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island. The tournament recently released its Fan Hub, which showcases special events, food and beverage options, partner activities and more happening throughout the nine-day tournament.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility in 2022. The city-owned venue underwent upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
Player field highlighted by five Grand Slam champions, five Charleston champions and four top 10 players
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America, has released its preliminary main draw player field for the 2024 tennis tournament, March 30 – April 7 on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina. The tournament is the clay season kick-off on the Hologic WTA Tour and was recently named the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive season.
The Credit One Charleston Open preliminary main draw is highlighted by five Grand Slam champions, five Charleston champions and four top 10 players. The field is headlined by World No. 5 and 2023 Montreal champion Jessica Pegula, World No. 6, three-time Grand Slam finalist and 2023 Charleston champion Ons Jabeur, World No. 9 and 2023 Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari and World No. 10 and 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko. In addition to Ostapenko, Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka, Barbora Krejcikova, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens have entered the field.
Jabeur joins Stephens (2016), Daria Kasatkina (2017), Madison Keys (2019) and Veronika Kudermetova (2021) as one of five past Charleston champions returning in pursuit of a second title on the green clay of the Credit One Stadium in April. Charleston native and World No. 23 Emma Navarro, who captured her first WTA title recently in Hobart, will also compete on home soil this year.
“We are very happy with the exceptional quality and depth of our 2024 Charleston player lineup, which showcases an exciting blend of the sport’s elite competitors and emerging young talent,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “From Grand Slam champions to players who have recently won their first WTA title, our field highlights the pinnacle of women’s tennis in Charleston. I can guarantee outstanding matches from start to finish for our attendees and viewers tuning in on Tennis Channel.”
Player field stats include:
Four Top 10 Players: Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Jelena Ostapenko
Five Grand Slam Champions: Victoria Azarenka (2012 and 2013 Australian Open), Jelena Ostapenko (2017 Roland Garros), Sloane Stephens (2017 US Open), Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open), Barbora Krejcikova (2021 Roland Garros)
Five Charleston Open Champions: Ons Jabeur, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Veronika Kudermetova, Daria Kasatkina
Nine American Competitors: Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Sloane Stephens, Caroline Dolehide, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins, Amanda Anisimova and Ashlyn Krueger
Four additional players will join the main draw via wild card entry, to be announced at a later date. To round out the field, six players will earn entry into the main draw via qualifying competition beginning March 30.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 28 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island. The tournament recently released its Fan Hub, which showcases special events, food and beverage options, partner activities and more happening throughout the nine-day tournament.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility in 2022. The city-owned venue underwent upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
GRAND SLAM CHAMPION AND TWO CHARLESTON CHAMPIONS JOIN CREDIT ONE CHARLESTON OPEN PLAYER FIELD
Charleston field currently features three Grand Slam champions, four top 10 players and five Charleston champions
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A Grand Slam champion and two former Charleston champions have joined the growing player field for the 2024 Credit One Charleston Open, taking place March 30 – April 7, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina at the state-of-the-art Credit One Stadium. World No. 10 and 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, World No. 12 and 2017 Charleston Open champion Daria Kasatkina and World No. 19 and 2021 Charleston Open champion Veronika Kudermetova will compete at the largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America next month. The Credit One Charleston Open was recently named the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive season.
The talented trio join a list of Charleston commits that already includes World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, World No. 6 Ons Jabeur, World No. 9 Maria Sakkari, Americans Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and Emma Navarro and fan favorites Elina Svitolina, Paula Badosa and LeylahFernandez.
Daria Kasatkina, 2017 Charleston Open (Photo: Tony Callaio)
“The Credit One Charleston Open will welcome a sensational player line-up to the Lowcountry next month,” said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Credit One Charleston Open and President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “With Ostapenko being a Grand Slam champion, and Kasatkina and Kudermetova both showcasing their skills as past Charleston champions, we’re guaranteed unforgettable tennis. And, off the court our tournament has invested in fan experiences that will keep our attendees engaged and entertained from day to night. We hope to see everyone at Credit One Stadium for our 52nd tournament in April!”
The 2024 Credit One Charleston Open field currently features three Grand Slam champions, four top 10 players, six Grand Slam finalists, five Charleston champions and two Charleston locals.
Ostapenko holds eight career singles titles, including two this season in Adelaide and Linz. The 26-year-old Latvian won her maiden Grand Slam title in Roland Garros in 2017. Her recent Grand Slam results include a pair of quarterfinal finishes in 2023 at the US Open and Australian Open.
She reached the Charleston final in 2017 in her tournament debut. The 2024 Credit One Charleston Open will be her third appearance in the field.
“Reaching the final in Charleston in 2017 was the start of a wonderful clay season for me… ending with my first Grand Slam title at the French Open,” said Ostapenko. “I’m looking forward to coming back to play Charleston again for the first time in five years.”
Kasatkina has strong results in Charleston, winning the tournament in 2017, reaching the quarterfinals in 2016 and 2018, and, most recently, advancing to the semifinals in 2023. She holds a 14-3 win-loss record on Charleston’s green clay.
“Charleston will always have a special place in my heart and brings back really good memories for me,” said Kasatkina. “I won my first title at this tournament when I was 19 years old and I love playing on the green clay and exploring the city. I’m excited to be back again this year.”
This season the 26-year-old has already competed in two finals, in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi. She was a 2022 Roland Garros semifinalist.
Kudermetova also won her maiden WTA title in Charleston in 2021. She won her second title last season in Tokyo, a fellow WTA 500 tournament. The 26-year-old’s 2023 season was also highlighted by semifinal appearances in Adelaide, Rome and Madrid and a final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. She was a 2022 Roland Garros quarterfinalist.
“Winning the title in Charleston was a big career moment,” said Kudermetova. “It was my first title and being on the list of champions at this incredible WTA tournament makes me really proud. Hoping for good results again here in April.”
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 24 players, and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island. The tournament recently released its Fan Hub, which showcases special events, food and beverage options, partner activities and more happening throughout the nine-day tournament.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility in 2022. The city-owned venue underwent upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
Former top-10 player returns to Tour after motherhood; to host ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ Pro-Am benefitting Ukraine
CHARLESTON, S.C. – More than a year since her last tennis match in Miami, Elina Svitolina will return to the Hologic WTA Tour at the 2023 Credit One Charleston Open. The former World No. 3 has accepted a main draw wild card into the Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America. The tournament, which was named the 2022 WTA 500 Tournament of the Year, is the annual clay season kickoff on the Hologic WTA Tour. The Charleston Open is scheduled April 1 – 9 in the renovated and modernized Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Ukrainian joins a Charleston player field featuring seven of the world’s top 15 players, five former champions and four Grand Slam champions.
Svitolina gave birth to her first child in October and has focused much of her time and energy on bringing awareness and support to her home country amidst the war in Ukraine. In continuation of these efforts, Svitolina has partnered with the Charleston Open and WTA Charities to host a special Tennis Plays for Peace Pro-Am in April, benefitting Ukraine and the Elina Svitolina Foundation.
The Tennis Plays for Peace initiative seeks “to bring the tennis community and fans together to support the humanitarian relief efforts for the war in Ukraine.” The tournament, in conjunction with WTA Charities, hosted a Pro-Am in 2022, raising $100,000 in donations for relief efforts in Ukraine.
“Increasing awareness and raising funds for Ukraine is very important to us as a tournament and to our players,” said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Credit One Charleston Open and President of Charleston Tennis LLC. “We are passionate about working with Elina, who has a deep and personal understanding of the needs in her home country right now, to further exemplify the mission of Tennis Plays for Peace and stand united with Ukraine.”
Svitolina is Ukraine’s most accomplished women’s tennis player. Her tennis career includes 16 WTA titles and she has advanced to the quarterfinal round or better at least once, in all four Grand Slams. In 2019, she appeared in both the Wimbledon and US Open semifinals.
The 2023 Credit One Charleston Open will be her second time in the field, reaching the third round in 2014.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 56 players, a qualifying draw of 32 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, recently renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility. The city-owned venue underwent upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open celebrated its 50th year in 2022. The tournament has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
Tickets for the 2023 tournament can be purchased online at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling (843) 856-7900. When purchasing tickets for the 2023 Credit One Charleston Open, patrons can choose from single session tickets ($25+) from Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, April 9. All tournament packages have officially sold out for the 2023 tournament, inclusive of all 100 and 200 level packages.
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