North America’s largest women’s only tennis tournament, the Credit One Charleston Open, returns to Daniel Island on March 29 to April 6.
The award-winning WTA 500 tournament features some of the top players in the world including Charleston resident, World No. 8 and US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro; World No. 5 and Australian Open champion Madison Keys; World No. 4 and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula; and World No. 10 and Australian Open semifinalist Paula Badosa.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the tournament being played in Charleston. Originally held on Hilton Head Island starting in 1973, the event relocated to Charleston in 2001.
Reflecting on its impact on the Lowcountry from a tennis perspective, COCO tournament director Bob Moran said there are two ways it has been impactful. The first is on the player development side.
“It’s not lost on me that the two professional tennis players that have come from Charleston are female, in Shelby Rogers and Emma Navarro. They grew up being inspired by the years of watching professional women’s tennis here in Charleston.”
The second is on the community side. “And the exponential growth of tennis in the Charleston area. Charleston has grown significantly in participation from the moment we moved here back in 2001,” noted Moran. The Lowcountry Tennis Association (LCTA) currently runs the fourth largest local adult tennis league program in the country.
Moran attributes the tournament’s growth and success to a couple of things. “There’s always been a great commitment here to putting on a first-class event,” he said. Additionally, Charleston supplies a scenic backdrop as a host city that attracts both players and fans. “So I think it’s a perfect storm of those two factors.”
COCO DELIVERS A THREE-PEAT
In 2024, the Credit One Charleston Open won the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year award for the third consecutive year. This prestigious recognition, awarded by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), is voted on by the players.
Discussing what earning a three-peat of the award means to the tournament team of staff and volunteers who put on the event, Moran stated, “It’s how we measure ourselves. We measure ourselves by our fans, by our partners, by the players. And we take great pride in knowing that when the players make a decision about what their favorite experience is — it’s Charleston, the Credit One Charleston Open — that means the world to the whole team.”
As they examine ways to improve the tournament, Moran said that it’s less about offering something new and more about enhancing what they currently do to make the player and fan experience better.
One major change fans will notice in 2025 is that this will be the first year of fully electronic line calling. This will also include live replay so fans will have access to real-time data during the event. They have invested in new lighting systems on the outdoor courts as well.
“From the overall general experience of what’s going on the grounds from music to interviews, entertainment, the food and beverage options — we just continue to refine and get better,” added Moran.
By Colin McCandless
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