Kasatkina Welcomes Charleston Open Hospitality And Unconditional Love

Daria Kasatkina (photo: Charleston Tennis LLC)

CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, April 3, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

Wednesday’s order of play in the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry was action-packed and provided fans who flocked to Credit One Stadium with an abundance of action-packed, clay-court tennis to whet everyone’s appetite.

On a mostly-sunny and warm day in the land of Southern hospitality and unconditional love, the day session in the Stadium began with 2017 Charleston Open champion and last year’s finalist Daria Kasatkina making her much-anticipated debut representing her new country, Australia, against American wild card Lauren Davis, continued with local favorite Emma Navarro pitted in an all-American battle on green clay with Hailey Baptiste, and finished with top seed Jessica Pegula of the United States against qualifier Iryna Shymanovich of Belarus.

Kasatkina: A very promising start to a new beginning

As the World No. 12 and fifth-seeded Kasatkina walked out on Stadium Court, introduced for the first time as an Australian, she was warmly greeted by the Charleston fans. They have always been great supporters of their past champions and Kasatkina didn’t disappoint.

The new Australian No. 1 jumped out to an early double-break 5-0 lead in the opening set against the 211th-ranked Davis and cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 double-breadstick victory in 61 minutes – her first triumph as an Aussie – to advance to the third round against a resurgent Sofia Kenin of the United States on Thursday evening. After winning the opening five games, Kasatkina bookended her 10th win of the season by winning the final five games. She hit 10 winners, converted six of nine break points and outpointed Davis 54-28.

During her on-court interview, the 27-year-old Kasatkina was asked how it felt to hear her new court introduction “From Australia, please welcome Daria Kasatkina” for the first time. She replied: “I couldn’t handle my smile. Even though I was a bit stressed and nervous before the match – because I also have some changes in my life – I just couldn’t handle the smile. 

“Stepping on court with the new status, with the new flag, it was quite stressful. I had this little baggage of the nerves, and it always explodes as soon as you step on court. I’m happy I was able to handle that.”

Later, during her post-match news conference, Kasatkina admitted she needed some time to digest everything that’s happened to her in the past week. “It’s something completely new to me. But I really like it, honestly,” she said.

“Like living in this state for the past couple of days it’s been – I feel better and better every day. Like first, of course, I was nervous, and when they just announced [my name], I was a bit stressed, because you don’t know how the reaction is going to be and how like just in general, you know, the changes like that, they are stressful. But, yeah, now I feel very good.”

Navarro: Part of a talented group of American women

Next, the 11th-ranked Navarro, part of an elite core of U.S. women ranked in the Top 20 along with No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Pegula, No. 5 Madison Keys and No. 16 Amanda Anisimova, defeated the 90th-ranked Baptiste, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 33 minutes in her first match on clay this season to advance to the third round against No. 15 seed Ashlyn Krueger. Navarro hit 14 winners to 22 unforced errors, saved 12 of 13 break points she faced – all in the second set – and broke Baptiste’s serve three times. She outpointed Baptiste 68-59 en route to recording her 12th win of the season.

“It’s awesome. Even just to be grouped in with those names is really cool,” Navarro said earlier this week during her pre-tournament news conference. “It’s really cool that American tennis is back, I guess you could say, and thriving. It’s fun to cheer Jess on when she’s playing in Miami, and Maddie, of course, starting the year off winning the Australian Open title. I think we push each other to always keep getting better.”

Later, during her post-match news conference, Navarro said it was good to get a win under her belt in Charleston. “First rounds are never easy, and especially playing in your hometown, you want to do as well as you can in front of the fans and family and friends. So, yeah, definitely felt a little bit of the pressure today, but I expected it, and I’m happy to be moving on.”

Pegula: Gets green clay campaign started with 12th Charleston win

Two-time (2023, 2024) Charleston semifinalist Pegula advanced with an easy 6-0, 6-3 win over the 215th-ranked Shymanovich in 71 minutes for her 12th career win in Charleston. The 31-year-old World No. 4 and this year’s top seed finished with 19 winners to 14 unforced errors. Pegula converted all six of her break-point tries against the Belarusian and outpointed Shymanovich 59-35.

The victory, which improved Pegula’s 2025 win-loss record to 21-6, advanced her to Thursday’s third round against No. 87 Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, who converted six of 12 break points and upset No. 16 seed Peyton Stearns of the United States, 6-1, 6-4, in an hour and 32 minutes on Court 3.

“I think a lot of the American guys say [6-love] is the kiss of death,” Pegula said during her on-court interview. “I was like ‘Oh no, I can’t let it happen today.’ Up a set … I felt like she really picked up her level a bit, playing with nothing to lose – and I expected it to happen at some point. I’m glad I was able to hold on in the second [to win].”

Pegula said adjusting from hard courts last week in Miami to clay this week in Charleston proved challenging, but it’s something she’s used to dealing with. “It’s always a tough turn around but I grew up on the green clay not far from here in Hilton Head. I know how to move on it, I know how to play on it. It never feels that tricky when I have to switch from hard – especially onto the green clay. Luckily, it’s maybe a little bit in my blood.”

Zheng at night: Dominant win over Sakkari 

The Wednesday evening session was highlighted by the first appearance this week from Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China, ranked eighth in the world, against 2024 Charleston semifinalist Maria Sakkari of Greece and finished with No. 13 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium facing Varvara Gracheva of France.

The World No. 8 and third seed Zheng, in her first match on clay since winning gold in Paris, dropped just four points on her first serve but found her rhythm through her 92-minute 6-4, 6-1 win over Sakkari. Zheng won 28 of 32 first-serve points (88 percent), hit 15 winners, converted four of seven break points and outpointed Sakkari 66-53.

Meanwhile, the former World No. 3 Sakkari’s ranking has dipped to No. 64 this season after losing 12 of her first 18 matches, which should be cause for concern for the popular Greek star.

“I think it’s a good win for me,” Zheng said during her post-match news conference. “A bit struggling the first set, just trying to find my clay court rhythm. But in the second set, seems like I found the right game and everything goes well. I’m pretty happy with my performance today.”

Next, Zheng will face Mertens in the third round Thursday afternoon. The Belgian No. 1 needed an hour and 56 minutes to defeat Gracheva, 6-3, 7-5. She overcame 39 unforced errors to hit 17 winners, converted six of 15 break points and outpointed Gracheva 86-68.

Around the Credit One Charleston Open

The lineup on Althea Gibson Club Court, the second show court at Daniel Island, was just as impressive as the Stadium. It featured a pair of former Grand Slam champions, American Sofia Kenin and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, plus another Olympic gold medalist, Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who faced Kenin in a featured afternoon match. Also, No. 15 seed Ashlyn Krueger and Katie Volynets met in a spirited, all-American tussle.

• First, the No. 11 seed Ostapenko beat 167th-ranked American qualifier Louisa Chirico, 7-5, 6-2, in an hour and 23 minutes after converting six of nine break-point opportunities to advance against No. 7 seed Danielle Collins in the third round Thursday afternoon.

Later, Ostapenko and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand, the No. 1 seeds in the doubles draw, won their quarterfinal match over Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia and Zhang Shuai of China, 7-5, 6-3, in an hour and 33 minutes to advance to the semifinal round.

• Next, the 44th-ranked Kenin defeated No. 17 seed Bencic, 6-0, 6-3, in an hour and 23 minutes after saving seven of eight break points she faced, while converting five of nine break-point chances against her opponent. Kenin, who won the first seven games of the match and later the last five, outpointed Bencic 64-43 to advance to the third round against No. 5 seed Kasatkina.

• Finally, No. 34 Krueger fought past the 78th-ranked Volynets, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in 90 minutes, outpointing her opponent 68-62.

Other Wednesday singles winners:

• No. 6 seed Diana Shnaider celebrated her 21st birthday by defeating No. 59 Polina Kudermetova in an all-Russian second-round match, 6-3, 6-2, to advance against No. 9 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, also of Russia, who handled 67th-ranked Ann Li of the United States, 6-3, 6-0, and snapped a four-match losing streak.

• No. 10 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan moved into the third round with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over 176th-ranked Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai. Next, she will face No. 8 seed Anisimova.

• No. 14 seed Anna Kalinskaya of Russia advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over 222nd-ranked American qualifier Caty McNally, and will face World No. 5 and second seed Keys in the third round Thursday evening.

In doubles, the final two quarterfinal berths were decided Wednesday evening. Advancing to the last eight were: Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Veronika Kudermetova of Russia, who defeated Harriet Dart of Great Britain and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico, 6-4, 6-1; and third seeds Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk of the United States, who defeated American wild cards Maria Mateas and Alana Smith, 6-4, 6-3.

Wednesday’s Charleston Open results

Thursday’s Charleston Open order of play

By the numbers

Going into Wednesday’s play, 14 of 16 American players in the 48-player main draw singles remained in contention for this year’s title. By the end of the day, just seven remained alive going into Thursday’s round of 16.

“Quotable …”

“I’ve been playing this tournament for many, many years, and I’ve always loved coming back. And I just have always really felt kind of at home here. So, I just really appreciate coming out and playing. And I think that I’ve always just tried to give my all, and some years that’s great and I’ve won the tournament and then other years it’s kind of ended in some heartbreakers. But I think everyone is just very – you know, they’re just very happy and proud of any players who are out there giving their all, and they’ll fully support you no matter what.”

– World No. 5 Madison Keys of the United States, during her post-match news conference Tuesday following her 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Caroline Dolehide, on what makes the Charleston Open special and why she feels she performs so well in Credit One Stadium.