CHARLESTON, S.C. – Credit One Bank has prolonged its title partnership with the Credit One Charleston Open until 2031. With this renewed dedication, they are proud to announce equal prize money for players, starting in 2026. This significant step highlights the bank`s dedication to gender equality in sports and strengthens Charleston`s position as a leading city in women`s professional tennis on the WTA Tour.
With this action, the Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women`s-only professional tennis tournament in North America, becomes the first independent WTA 500 tournament to proactively increase prize money before the 2033 deadline. The deadline requires all single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events to award equal prize money.
“Credit One is proud to reaffirm our sponsorship of this important women’s tennis tournament through 2031,” stated Amber Greenwalt, SVP of Brand and Advertising for Credit One Bank. “Just like the Charleston Open has a history of empowering women since 1973, Credit One is also committed to supporting progress and celebrating achievements by empowering individuals in their financial lives. In line with this vision, we are excited to confirm that next year’s Charleston Open champion will receive the same prize money as male champions in comparable tournaments. This commitment shows our dedication to promoting fairness both on and off the court, as we continue to support progress and opportunity for everyone.”
`At the Credit One Charleston Open, we are committed to creating an environment where all athletes are valued and rewarded for their talent and hard work,” said Ben Navarro, Owner of the Credit One Charleston Open Tournament.
“Providing equal prize money in 2026 is a crucial move towards a more inclusive and fair future for tennis. We are proud to take this step as part of our ongoing commitment to support fairness in sports and set an example for the next generation.`
The tournament has a long-standing tradition of innovation in women`s tennis. It was the first women’s tennis event to offer $100,000 in prize money in 1973 and the first to be broadcast live on national television. Rosie Casals, the first champion, received $30,000, the largest prize money awarded to a woman that year.
The prize money for the 2025 Credit One Charleston Open is $1,064,510. In 2026, the prize money was projected to be about $1.15 million. However, to ensure equal pay, the total prize money will be increased to match ATP 500 events, which typically offer over $2 million. The exact prize money for the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open will be determined once the official figures for the 2026 season are announced.
`The Credit One Charleston Open has consistently been a leader in promoting women in sports, and we are very proud of our history. We have broken attendance records year after year, attracting over 90,000 attendees and 26 million international television viewers,” said Navarro. “As the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America and one of the longest-running women’s-only events in professional sports, we are not just celebrating the past – we are actively shaping the future.”
The Credit One Charleston Open marks the start of the clay season on the WTA Tour. The tournament was recently recognized as the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the third year in a row.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open features a singles competition with 48 players, a qualifying competition with 28 players, and a doubles competition with 16 pairs.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, manages Credit One Stadium under a lease agreement with the City of Charleston. In 2022, they renovated the 20-year-old facility. The city-owned venue was upgraded to improve the stadium experience for visitors, performers, tennis players, and event management. This allows the venue to attract top athletes and talent to Daniel Island. The renovation, funded by Ben and Kelly Navarro as a gift to the City of Charleston, modernized the site, creating the state-of-the-art Credit One Stadium.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, leading the way 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 now held at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home of Credit One Stadium.
Rupert Caldwell