Charleston Open Kicks Off Clay-Court Season With Equal Prize Money

Top women's tennis players compete for $2.5 million purse at historic WTA 500 tournament.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women's clay-court tournament in North America, kicks off the WTA Tour's clay-court swing this weekend. The historic event, which dates back to 1973, will feature a 48-player singles draw headlined by World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, the defending champion, along with other top-20 players like Ekaterina Alexandrova, Belinda Bencic, and Madison Keys. This year's tournament will make history by voluntarily doubling its prize money to $2.5 million, becoming the first standalone WTA 500 event to offer equal prize money to its ATP 500 counterpart.

Why it matters

The Credit One Charleston Open is a beloved stop on the WTA Tour, serving as an important warm-up for the clay-court major championships. By increasing its prize money to $2.5 million, the tournament is making a bold statement about respecting the value and talent of the women's game. This move aligns with the growing momentum and engagement around women's tennis, and sets a new standard for equal pay in professional sports.

The details

The qualifying tournament kicked off on March 28, and the main draw will run from March 30 to April 5. The singles and doubles finals will be played on April 5, with the doubles final at 12 p.m. ET followed by the singles final. The 48-player singles draw includes 38 direct entries, 6 qualifiers, and 4 wildcards. In addition to defending champion Jessica Pegula, other top players in the field include Ekaterina Alexandrova, Belinda Bencic, Madison Keys, and Leylah Fernandez. Notable withdrawals include Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko.

  • The qualifying tournament kicked off on March 28 and March 29.
  • The main draw will run from March 30 to April 5.
  • The singles and doubles finals will be played on April 5, with the doubles final at 12 p.m. ET followed by the singles final.

The players

Jessica Pegula

The World No. 5 and defending champion of the Credit One Charleston Open, having won the title in 2025 for her first career clay-court title.

Ekaterina Alexandrova

A top-20 player who is among the seeded entrants in the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open.

Belinda Bencic

The 2022 champion of the Credit One Charleston Open, and another top-20 player in this year's field.

Madison Keys

The 2019 champion of the Credit One Charleston Open, and a top-20 player competing in this year's event.

Leylah Fernandez

The 2021 US Open finalist who received a direct entry into the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Women's tennis is delivering at a very high level right now, from the quality of competition to the engagement from fans, and this investment reflects that. Offering equal prize money is about respecting the players and the work they put in, and aligning the tournament with the value of the game.”

— Ben Navarro, Charleston Open owner

What’s next

The tournament champion will be crowned on April 5, with the singles final taking place in the afternoon following the doubles final.

The takeaway

The Credit One Charleston Open's decision to double its prize money to $2.5 million and offer equal pay to the ATP 500 event sets a new standard for women's tennis. This move recognizes the immense talent and growing popularity of the women's game, and will inspire other tournaments to follow suit in providing equitable compensation for elite female athletes.