CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, December 16, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
The Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America and the annual clay season kickoff on the Hologic WTA Tour, has been named as WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the second straight year.
The award, which was announced by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Friday, recognizes excellence in staff and organization, passionate fans and a tournament’s wider dedication to tennis and its athletes.
“To be recognized with this award for the second year in a row is testament to the continued drive and commitment to the fan and player experience from the Credit One Charleston Open team,” WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said in a statement. “The tournament should be exceptionally proud at staging an event that continually goes above and beyond to create an atmosphere and environment where players feel comfortable and able to perform at their best. Charleston has earned a well-deserved reputation and set an aspirational standard.”
Doing a victory lap 🏆🏆
The Credit One Charleston Open is the @WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the second year in a row! pic.twitter.com/XdJnfeFV6w
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) December 15, 2023
The Credit One Charleston Open, whose origins date back to 1973 when the tournament was first held on Hilton Head Island, S.C. before moving to Charleston in 2001, will celebrate its 52nd event next year at the renovated and modernized Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island Tennis Center. The tournament has long been a pioneer in women’s professional sports and helped pave the way for women’s tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay.
Today, the nine-day Credit One Charleston Open traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island. The 2024 tournament (from March 30 to April 7) will showcase a singles draw of 48 players, headlined by World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, World No. 6 and defending champion Ons Jabeur, World No. 9 Maria Sakkari and past Charleston champions Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens.
Congratulations to our fellow winners @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @TransylvaniaOpn for being recognized as WTA 1000 & WTA 250 Tournament of the Year. 🏆 Together, we’ll continue to champion the incredible women of tennis. 💜
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) December 15, 2023
“We are honored to be named the Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive year,” Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Credit One Charleston Open and President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement. “This award exemplifies the high standards that our owners, Ben and Kelly Navarro, challenge us to meet each and every year. We’re immensely proud to receive this recognition, particularly after extraordinary 2022 and 2023 tournaments, which showcased a new stadium and fan experiences. This award is dedicated to everyone who makes our tournament great — our players, fans, corporate sponsors, volunteers, staff and media partners. We can not host a successful event without them and share this distinction with them.”
We are humbled to receive this top honor & truly believe it would not be possible without the unwavering support of our players, corporate partners, fans, volunteers & everyone involved in making our tournament a success. 💜 Learn more about this award: https://t.co/3lKcbrec4l
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) December 15, 2023
What the players think of the Credit One Charleston Open
“I am really looking forward to competing again in Charleston after my last time there five years ago,” said Sakkari. “I played well on the green clay and really enjoyed the tournament’s laid-back atmosphere. I would love to lift the Charleston trophy next spring!”
“It’s no secret I love playing in Charleston. The tournament is an amazing advocate for the sport and puts on an event that the players and fans look forward to every year,” said Keys, who won the 2019 Charleston title.
Stephens, the tournament’s 2016 champion, calls Charleston “absolutely one of my favorite stops on the tour and I look forward to the tournament every year. The event always has amazing crowds and I can’t wait to be back again in April.”
“I have been lucky enough to play the Credit One Charleston Open five times in my career, and every occasion I come to the tournament I am made to feel incredibly welcome by the whole team there,” said 2023 champion Jabeur. “Winning the title there in 2023 was a key moment for me in the season, which was made even more special as the tournament went above and beyond to make the whole week a great success.”
