The Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America, has announced its main draw wild cards ahead of the highly anticipated 52nd event, March 30 - April 7 on Daniel Island. The tournament has awarded wild cards to former World No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, World No. 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia, Charleston native Shelby Rogers and 2023 Wimbledon girls singles champion Clervie Ngounoue.
“We are excited to have an impressive lineup of wild cards this year, including former World No. 1 and past champion Caroline Wozniacki, Brazil's Top 20 trailblazer Beatriz Haddad Maia, and the incredibly promising American young talent, Clervie Ngounoue,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “Caroline's return to the courts in Charleston adds a layer of anticipation and nostalgia for our fans, while Beatriz's breakthrough performances on the tour last year signal she's a significant contender. Clervie represents the bright future of tennis at just 17 years old, and we can't wait to see her compete on this grand stage. Their commitments emphasize our tournament's reputation as a platform where legends, current champions, and future stars converge, promising a week of exciting tennis action for our fans.”
“Welcoming Shelby Rogers back to the courts at an event that holds special significance for her as a local player, means a great deal to our tournament and our fans,” said Moran. “Shelby's determination to return to the game she loves is truly inspiring. It's a moment of pride for us to see her compete in her hometown, and we look forward to supporting her throughout the tournament.”
To round out the field, six players will earn entry into the main draw via qualifying competition beginning March 30.
The 2024 tournament features a deep player field that includes four Grand Slam champions, six former Charleston champions, two former World No. 1’s and 10 top 20 players.
The wild cards join a field that is headlined by World No. 5 and 2023 Montreal champion Jessica Pegula, World No. 6, three-time Grand Slam finalist and 2023 Charleston champion Ons Jabeur and World No. 9 and 2023 Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari. In addition to Wozniacki, Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens have also entered the field.
2011 Charleston champion Wozniacki joins Jabeur (2023), Stephens (2016), Daria Kasatkina (2017), Madison Keys (2019) and Veronika Kudermetova (2021) as one of six former Charleston champions returning in pursuit of a second title on the green clay of the Credit One Stadium in April.
Wild Card Commitments:
Wozniacki formally retired in January 2020 after participating in the Australian Open to start a family. In August 2023, the mother of two made a return to professional tennis in Montreal. Shortly after her comeback, she advanced to the fourth round at the US Open. She has since reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells. She won the 2018 Australian Open and is a two-time US Open finalist. She holds 30 WTA titles, including the Charleston title in 2011. This will be her seventh time competing in the Charleston tournament, where she holds a 20-5 win/loss record. She reached the tournament’s finals in 2019 and 2009, semifinals in 2010 and quarterfinals in 2013 and 2017.
World No. 13 Haddad Maia will compete in Charleston’s main draw for the second time and first since 2018. Her 2023 season included reaching the semifinals of Roland-Garros and Abu Dhabi and quarterfinals of Adelaide, Doha, Stuttgart, Rome and San Diego. She also won her third singles title last year when she captured the WTA Elite Trophy title in Zhuhai. She reached a career high singles and doubles ranking of World No. 10 in 2023.
Charleston native Rogers has recently returned from an injury that has sidelined her since Wimbledon 2023. This will be 10th appearance in the Charleston main draw, where she made the quarterfinals in 2017. Rogers is a two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist having reached the final eight at the 2020 US Open and 2016 in Roland Garros.
Seventeen year old Ngounoue will compete in Charleston for the first time. She has won three girls’ Grand Slam titles - the 2023 Wimbledon girls’ singles champion title and the girls’ doubles title in 2023 at Roland Garros and 2022 at the Australian Open. She was the ITF’s No. 1 ranked junior in June 2023.
Additionally, Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from the tournament due to illness.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 28 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island. The tournament recently released its Fan Hub, which showcases special events, food and beverage options, partner activities and more happening throughout the nine-day tournament.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility in 2022. The city-owned venue underwent upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased online at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling (843) 856-7900. For additional information, please email tickets@charlestontennisllc.
