2 weeks Ago
It's game, set, match for the 2025 Credit One Charleston Open after a competitive week-long playing field crowned Jessica Pegula as champion, saw record-breaking ticket sales. The largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America sold more than 89,000 tickets for the March 29-April 6 lineup — a 25 percent increase from the prior year, despite a lost Monday session. For the first time in the event's history, the Credit One tournament drew visitors from all 50 states — including Washington, D.
C., and Puerto Rico — in addition to 11 countries. Among the tens of thousands of ticketholders was a group of five lifelong friends from Greenville, N.
C., who for the past four years have made the tournament a week-long Charleston vacation. They've been playing tennis together for 20 years and gather annually to share their love for the sport.
Ahead of the first match of the day April 3, the women donned their sun hats and tennis apparel. "It's a great venue, and it's hard to find this level of tennis so close to where we live," Jean Harrington said before taking a group photo. When asked what started the tradition, her friend Amanda Bonds shared, "We love tennis and we love each other — it's that simple.
" Fans fill the stands as Jessica Pegula plays Danielle Collins during a quarterfinal match at the Credit One Charleston Open on April 4 on Daniel Island. Tournament director Bob Moran said the 2025 event exceeded expectations on multiple levels. Afterward, Credit One announced it has extended its title partnership through 2031.
Discussions with sponsor Credit One have been ongoing for years about raising the purse stakes, but they had to wait for it to make sense financially, Moran said. Both the finance company and the event are owned by local investor Ben Navarro, whose daughter Emma Navarro is a rising star on the WTA tour and reached the quarterfinals on Daniel Island. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time, but you can't make it happen without strong partners, ticket sales and other metrics to support that," Moran said.
"The women deserve it and we're proud to be the first WTA 500-level event to do this." Roughly 85 percent of tickets are sold ahead of time, with the rest from walk-up sales, which Moran said did exceptionally well. Partnerships, ticket sales, food and beverage, and merchandise also delivered above-average revenue growth.
Early ticket sales for the tournament pointed to growing spectator interest in the sport. The prime courtside "100" section for all sessions sold out in five days in November while finals and championship packages were sold out months ahead of time. Fans cheer an April 4 match at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island.
Moran said a number of factors contribute to interest and excitement for the tennis event — be it the success of U.S. women players on the international stage, media exposure to the expansion of offerings during the event like new food and beverage options, or package deals and premium seating.
The Credit One Charleston Open also contributes to the local tourism scene. The tournament's concierge group books an estimated 3,000 hotel rooms for players, officials, event staff and TV crews on average each year. The event falls during some of the area's other biggest draws, such as the annual Cooper River Bridge Run and Summerville's Flowertown Festival.
Daniel Guttentag, director of the College of Charleston's Office of Tourism Analysis, said that with several events combining to pull in visitors, occupancy for the week and weekend hovered between 87 percent and 94 percent across the peninsula, West Ashley and North Charleston and East Cooper areas. It marked 11 percent jump from the week before and a 17 percent increase from the previous weekend. The Credit One tournament is broadcast on the Tennis Channel from the first serve to the last ball drop for more than 60 hours of exposure to more than 25 million viewers in 150 countries.
The contract with the network also was just renewed for another five years, Moran said. He added that the exposure extends well-beyond the court, with commercial breaks showcasing Charleston. Sofia Kenin enters the stadium to play Amanda Anisimova in a semifinal match at the Credit One Charleston Open on April 5 on Daniel Island.
Tournament directors further distributed more than 2,500 free tickets to children and 2,000 to veterans. Moran said the event still struggles with is drawing more ticketholders to night matches, since many of the visitors prefer to go out to dinner. Jenna McGary was part of a group that traveled from Charlotte for the tournament.
"It's my first time here, but getting to see and meet the players up close has been the best part," McGary said. Cat Burdick, a returning ticketholder, agreed. "They come off the practice courts or out of the stadium after a match and spend time with fans," Burdick said.
"The accessibility to the players is a big deal because you can't find that at most big tournaments anywhere else." Jessica Pegula greets fans after her April 4 win over Danielle Collins at the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island. Moran said maintaining that strong connection between players, fans and the community is what sets the tournament apart.
Several players even spent a day as substitute teachers at Meeting Street School. "It's important to us that we engage all players, whereas some events focus on showcasing the top 10," Moran said. "Both the players and fans feel valued, and that's part of the experience.
" International Credit One Charleston Open Visitors Ticketholders for the 2025 Credit One Open Charleston sessions included visitors from the following countries..
