Charleston Open: A Historic Journey of Women’s Tennis
In the world of women’s tennis, the Charleston Open is a tournament that has not only given players recognition but has also earned a permanent place in the sport’s proud history. This competition, still held every year with full respect, started in 1973 and has continued to grow ever since.
A Legacy That Has Lasted 50 Years
This is the oldest professional women’s tennis tournament in the United States, held every year in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2022, the tournament celebrated its 50th year at the newly upgraded Credit One Stadium, located on Daniel Island. This stadium is the main venue for the event and has a seating capacity of about 10,200.
Where It Started and Where It Stands Today
The tournament was first organised at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. In 1975 and 1976, it was temporarily moved to Amelia Island in Florida, but since 2001, it has been permanently hosted on Daniel Island.
Changes in Status Over the Years
Over the time the tournament has gone through several changes. From 1990 to 2008, it held the status of a WTA Tier I event. In 2009, it became a WTA Premier tournament, and in 2021, it was classified as a WTA 500 event. In the same year, a second edition of the tournament was also held, which was given the WTA 250 tag.
Honors and Memories
In 2012, to mark the 40th year of the tournament, the main stadium court was named after the legendary tennis player Billie Jean King. This was more than just an honor, it was a tribute to her contributions to the sport of women’s tennis.
When It Comes to Records…
The player with the most singles titles at the Charleston Open is Chris Evert. Her record still inspires many other players in the game today.
Charleston Open Women’s Singles Champions (1973–2024)
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Rosemary Casals 🇺🇸 | Nancy Richey 🇺🇸 | 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1974 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Kerry Melville 🇦🇺 | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1975 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Martina Navratilova 🇨🇿 | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1976 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Kerry Reid 🇦🇺 | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1977 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Billie Jean King 🇺🇸 | 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1978 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Kerry Reid 🇦🇺 | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1979 | Tracy Austin 🇺🇸 | Kerry Reid 🇦🇺 | 7–6(3), 7–6(7) |
| 1980 | Tracy Austin 🇺🇸 | Regina Maršíková 🇨🇿 | 3–6, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1981 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Pam Shriver 🇺🇸 | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1982 | Martina Navratilova 🇺🇸 | Andrea Jaeger 🇺🇸 | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1983 | Martina Navratilova 🇺🇸 | Tracy Austin 🇺🇸 | 5–7, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1984 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 🇩🇪 | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1985 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | Gabriela Sabatini 🇦🇷 | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1986 | Steffi Graf 🇩🇪 | Chris Evert 🇺🇸 | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1987 | Steffi Graf 🇩🇪 | Manuela Maleeva 🇧🇬 | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1988 | Martina Navratilova 🇺🇸 | Gabriela Sabatini 🇦🇷 | 6–1, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 1989 | Steffi Graf 🇩🇪 | Natasha Zvereva 🇷🇺 | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1990 | Martina Navratilova 🇺🇸 | Jennifer Capriati 🇺🇸 | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1991 | Gabriela Sabatini 🇦🇷 | Leila Meskhi 🇷🇺 | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1992 | Gabriela Sabatini 🇦🇷 | Conchita Martínez 🇪🇸 | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1993 | Steffi Graf 🇩🇪 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 🇪🇸 | 7–6(10), 6–1 |
| 1994 | Conchita Martínez 🇪🇸 | Natalia Zvereva 🇧🇾 | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1995 | Conchita Martínez 🇪🇸 | Magdalena Maleeva 🇧🇬 | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1996 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 🇪🇸 | Barbara Paulus 🇦🇹 | 6–2, 2–6, 6–2 |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis 🇨🇭 | Monica Seles 🇺🇸 | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(5) |
| 1998 | Amanda Coetzer 🇿🇦 | Irina Spîrlea 🇷🇴 | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1999 | Martina Hingis 🇨🇭 | Anna Kournikova 🇷🇺 | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 2000 | Mary Pierce 🇫🇷 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 🇪🇸 | 6–1, 6–0 |
| 2001 | Jennifer Capriati 🇺🇸 | Martina Hingis 🇨🇭 | 6–0, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 2002 | Iva Majoli 🇭🇷 | Patty Schnyder 🇨🇭 | 7–6(5), 6–4 |
| 2003 | Justine Henin 🇧🇪 | Serena Williams 🇺🇸 | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2004 | Venus Williams 🇺🇸 | Conchita Martínez 🇪🇸 | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 2005 | Justine Henin 🇧🇪 | Elena Dementieva 🇷🇺 | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 2006 | Nadia Petrova 🇷🇺 | Patty Schnyder 🇨🇭 | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 2007 | Jelena Janković 🇷🇸 | Dinara Safina 🇷🇺 | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 2008 | Serena Williams 🇺🇸 | Vera Zvonareva 🇷🇺 | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 2009 | Sabine Lisicki 🇩🇪 | Caroline Wozniacki 🇩🇰 | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2010 | Samantha Stosur 🇦🇺 | Vera Zvonareva 🇷🇺 | 6–0, 6–3 |
| 2011 | Caroline Wozniacki 🇩🇰 | Elena Vesnina 🇷🇺 | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 2012 | Serena Williams 🇺🇸 | Lucie Šafářová 🇨🇿 | 6–0, 6–1 |
| 2013 | Serena Williams 🇺🇸 | Jelena Janković 🇷🇸 | 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 |
| 2014 | Andrea Petkovic 🇩🇪 | Jana Čepelová 🇸🇰 | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 2015 | Angelique Kerber 🇩🇪 | Madison Keys 🇺🇸 | 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 2016 | Sloane Stephens 🇺🇸 | Elena Vesnina 🇷🇺 | 7–6(4), 6–2 |
| 2017 | Daria Kasatkina 🇷🇺 | Jeļena Ostapenko 🇱🇻 | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 2018 | Kiki Bertens 🇳🇱 | Julia Görges 🇩🇪 | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 2019 | Madison Keys 🇺🇸 | Caroline Wozniacki 🇩🇰 | 7–6(5), 6–3 |
| 2021 (1) | Veronika Kudermetova 🇷🇺 | Danka Kovinić 🇲🇪 | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2021 (2) | Astra Sharma 🇦🇺 | Ons Jabeur 🇹🇳 | 2–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
| 2022 | Belinda Bencic 🇨🇭 | Ons Jabeur 🇹🇳 | 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 2023 | Ons Jabeur 🇹🇳 | Belinda Bencic 🇨🇭 | 7–6(6), 6–4 |
| 2024 | Danielle Collins 🇺🇸 | Daria Kasatkina (ANA) | 6–2, 6–1 |
Charleston Open Women’s Doubles Champions (1973–2024)
| Year | Winning Pair | Runners-Up | Match Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Françoise Dürr (FRA) / Betty Stöve (NED) | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Billie Jean King (USA) | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1974 | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Olga Morozova (URS) | Helen Gourlay (AUS) / Karen Krantzcke (AUS) | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1975 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) / Virginia Wade (GBR) | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Olga Morozova (URS) | 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1976 | Ilana Kloss (RSA) / Linky Boshoff (RSA) | Kathy Kuykendall (USA) / Valerie Ziegenfuss (USA) | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1977 | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Chris Evert (USA) | Françoise Dürr (FRA) / Virginia Wade (GBR) | 1–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1978 | Billie Jean King (USA) / Martina Navratilova (USA) | Mona Guerrant (USA) / Greer Stevens (RSA) | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1979 | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Martina Navratilova (USA) | Françoise Dürr (FRA) / Betty Stöve (NED) | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1980 | Kathy Jordan (USA) / Anne Smith (USA) | Candy Reynolds (USA) / Paula Smith (USA) | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1981 | Rosemary Casals (USA) / Wendy Turnbull (AUS) | Mima Jaušovec (YUG) / Pam Shriver (USA) | 7–5, 7–5 |
| 1982 | Martina Navratilova (USA) / Pam Shriver (USA) | JoAnne Russell (USA) / Virginia Ruzici (ROU) | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1983 | Martina Navratilova (USA) / Candy Reynolds (USA) | Andrea Jaeger (USA) / Paula Smith (USA) | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1984 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (FRG) / Hana Mandlíková (TCH) | Anne Hobbs (GBR) / Sharon Walsh (USA) | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1985 | Rosalyn Fairbank (RSA) / Pam Shriver (USA) | Svetlana Parkhomenko (URS) / Larisa Savchenko (URS) | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1986 | Chris Evert (USA) / Anne White (USA) | Steffi Graf (FRG) / Catherine Tanvier (FRA) | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1987 | Mercedes Paz (ARG) / Eva Pfaff (FRG) | Zina Garrison (USA) / Lori McNeil (USA) | 7–6(6), 7–5 |
| 1988 | Lori McNeil (USA) / Martina Navratilova (USA) | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (FRG) / Gabriela Sabatini (ARG) | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1989 | Hana Mandlíková (AUS) / Martina Navratilova (USA) | Mary-Lou Daniels (USA) / Wendy White (USA) | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1990 | Martina Navratilova (USA) / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) | Mercedes Paz (ARG) / Natasha Zvereva (URS) | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1991 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (GER) / Natasha Zvereva (URS) | Mary-Lou Daniels (USA) / Lise Gregory (RSA) | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1992 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) / Natasha Zvereva (BLR) | Larisa Savchenko (LAT) / Jana Novotná (TCH) | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1993 | Gigi Fernández (USA) / Natasha Zvereva (BLR) | Katrina Adams (USA) / Manon Bollegraf (NED) | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1994 | Lori McNeil (USA) / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) | Gigi Fernández (USA) / Natasha Zvereva (BLR) | 6–4, 4–1 ret. |
| 1995 | Nicole Arendt (USA) / Manon Bollegraf (NED) | Gigi Fernández (USA) / Natasha Zvereva (BLR) | 0–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1996 | Jana Novotná (CZE) / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) | Gigi Fernández (USA) / Mary Joe Fernández (USA) | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1997 | Mary Joe Fernández (USA) / Martina Hingis (SUI) | Lindsay Davenport (USA) / Jana Novotná (CZE) | 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 1998 | Conchita Martínez (ESP) / Patricia Tarabini (ARG) | Lisa Raymond (USA) / Rennae Stubbs (AUS) | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1999 | Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) / Jana Novotná (CZE) | Barbara Schett (AUT) / Patty Schnyder (SUI) | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 2000 | Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suárez (ARG) | Conchita Martínez (ESP) / Patricia Tarabini (ARG) | 7–5, 6–3 |
| 2001 | Lisa Raymond (USA) / Rennae Stubbs (AUS) | Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suárez (ARG) | 5–7, 7–6(5), 6–3 |
| 2002 | Lisa Raymond (USA) / Rennae Stubbs (AUS) | Alexandra Fusai (FRA) / Caroline Vis (NED) | 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(4) |
| 2003 | Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suárez (ARG) | Janette Husárová (SVK) / Conchita Martínez (ESP) | 6–0, 6–3 |
| 2004 | Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suárez (ARG) | Martina Navratilova (USA) / Lisa Raymond (USA) | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 2005 | Conchita Martínez (ESP) / Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) | Iveta Benešová (CZE) / Květa Peschke (CZE) | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 2006 | Lisa Raymond (USA) / Samantha Stosur (AUS) | Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) / Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) | 3–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 2007 | Yan Zi (CHN) / Zheng Jie (CHN) | Peng Shuai (CHN) / Sun Tiantian (CHN) | 7–5, 6–0 |
| 2008 | Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Ai Sugiyama (JPN) | Edina Gallovits (ROU) / Olga Govortsova (BLR) | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 2009 | Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Nadia Petrova (RUS) | Līga Dekmeijere (LAT) / Patty Schnyder (SUI) | 6–7(5), 6–2, [11–9] |
| 2010 | Liezel Huber (USA) / Nadia Petrova (RUS) | Vania King (USA) / Michaëlla Krajicek (NED) | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2011 | Sania Mirza (IND) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) | Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 2012 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) / Lucie Šafářová (CZE) | Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) | 5–7, 6–4, [10–6] |
| 2013 | Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) / Lucie Šafářová (CZE) | Andrea Hlaváčková (CZE) / Liezel Huber (USA) | 6–3, 7–6(6) |
| 2014 | Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) | Chan Hao-ching (TPE) / Chan Yung-jan (TPE) | 7–6(4), 6–2 |
| 2015 | Martina Hingis (SUI) / Sania Mirza (IND) | Casey Dellacqua (AUS) / Darija Jurak (CRO) | 6–0, 6–4 |
| 2016 | Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) | Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Lucie Šafářová (CZE) | 6–2, 7–5 |
| 2017 | Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Lucie Šafářová (CZE) | Lucie Hradecká (CZE) / Kateřina Siniaková (CZE) | 6–1, 4–6, [10–7] |
| 2018 | Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) | Andreja Klepač (SLO) / María J. Martínez Sánchez (ESP) | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 2019 | Anna-Lena Grönefeld (GER) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) | Irina Khromacheva (RUS) / Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) | 7–6(7), 6–2 |
| 2021 (a) | Nicole Melichar (USA) / Demi Schuurs (NED) | Marie Bouzková (CZE) / Lucie Hradecká (CZE) | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2021 (b) | Hailey Baptiste (USA) / Caty McNally (USA) | Ellen Perez (AUS) / Storm Sanders (AUS) | 6–7(4), 6–4, [10–6] |
| 2022 | Andreja Klepač (SLO) / Magda Linette (POL) | Lucie Hradecká (CZE) / Sania Mirza (IND) | 6–2, 4–6, [10–7] |
| 2023 | Danielle Collins (USA) / Desirae Krawczyk (USA) | Giuliana Olmos (MEX) / Ena Shibahara (JPN) | 0–6, 6–4, [14–12] |
| 2024 | Ashlyn Krueger (USA) / Sloane Stephens (USA) | Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) / Nadiia Kichenok (UKR) | 1–6, 6–3, [10–7] |
