Prepare for thrilling clay-court action! The Hologic WTA Tour`s clay season kicks off next week with the Credit One Charleston Open, a prestigious WTA 500 event held on Charleston`s signature green clay.
Celebrating its 53rd year, this tournament is the longest-running professional women`s tennis event in the USA, evolving from its 1973 beginnings on Hilton Head Island. It has also been honored as the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the last three years, showcasing its exceptional quality and fan experience.
The main draw action starts on Monday, March 31st, featuring 48 top singles players, including half of the world`s Top 20, and 16 dynamic doubles teams. They will compete for a share of over one million dollars in prize money. The exciting singles and doubles finals are scheduled for Sunday, April 6th.
As the Road to Roland Garros begins in South Carolina, here’s a rundown of essential information for the Charleston Open:
- Main-Draw Start Date: Monday, March 31
- Singles Final: Sunday, April 6, not before 2:30 p.m.
- Doubles Final: Sunday, April 6 at 12 p.m.
- Qualifying Dates: Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30
- Main-Draw Ceremony: Saturday, March 29 at 3 p.m.
- Singles Main-Draw Size: 48 players (including 6 qualifiers and 4 wild cards)
- Doubles Main-Draw Size: 16 teams
- Time Zone: Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4)
- Tournament Ball: Dunlop Grand Prix Regular Duty
Champions Reel: Danielle Collins` Charleston 2024 Victory
Key storylines to follow in Charleston:
- Danielle Collins` Title Defense: The defending champion, Danielle Collins, returns after winning her first WTA 500 title here last year, part of a 15-match win streak that propelled her back into the Top 10.
- Madison Keys` Career-High Confidence: Madison Keys, a Charleston favorite, enters the tournament as a Grand Slam champion and ranked at a career-high No. 5. She aims to add another Charleston title to her 2019 victory and improve upon her 2015 final appearance.
- Jessica Pegula Seeks Charleston Breakthrough: Top seed Jessica Pegula, currently ranked No. 4 globally, is looking to reach her first Charleston final after two consecutive semifinal finishes.
- Emma Navarro`s Hometown Advantage: Rising star Emma Navarro will play in her local tournament as a Top 10 player, having achieved Grand Slam quarterfinal and semifinal results in the past year. This event marks a special return, as Charleston was where Navarro made her WTA main-draw debut in 2019.
- Former Champions in the Mix: Besides Collins and Keys, past Charleston champions Daria Kasatkina (2017), Veronika Kudermetova (2021), and Belinda Bencic (2022) are also competing. Bencic, in particular, is making a strong comeback, already winning a title after returning from maternity leave and re-entering the Top 50.
Charleston Open Points and Prize Money Breakdown:
Here’s a look at the ranking points and prize money distribution for the tournament:
- First round: 1 point | $6,400
- Second round: 32 points | $7,975
- Round of 16: 60 points | $12,900
- Quarterfinals: 108 points | $25,550
- Semifinals: 195 points | $51,085
- Finalist: 325 points | $101,000
- Champion: 500 points | $164,000
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament approaches!
Rupert Caldwell