Charleston local and World No. 15 Emma Navarro will return to compete in her hometown tournament next year at the Credit One Charleston Open, North America’s largest women’s-only professional tennis event.
The 24-year-old American added a second career title to her resume in February at the WTA 500 Mérida Open, where she won the final 6‑0, 6‑0, becoming only the fifth player since 2000 to win a WTA final without dropping a game. She will be joined in the field by fellow Americans World No. 6 Jessica Pegula and World No. 7 Madison Keys. The tournament is set for March 28 - April 5, 2026, on Daniel Island in Charleston.
Navarro’s 2025 season included seven quarterfinal finishes, highlighted by a run to the final eight at the Australian Open. In 2024, she reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, advanced to the semifinals at the US Open and qualified for the Olympic team for the first time. She will compete in the Credit One Charleston Open for the seventh time next year.
As the kickoff event of the WTA Hologic Tour’s clay season, the Charleston Open is held annually at Credit One Stadium and was named WTA 500 Tournament of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In April, Credit One Bank extended its title partnership of the Credit One Charleston Open through 2031 and announced the tournament will offer equal prize money beginning in 2026, a historic milestone for the event. This move reflects the bank's belief that women athletes deserve equal investment and opportunity, and further cements Charleston’s role as a leader on the Hologic WTA Tour. With this announcement, the Credit One Charleston Open becomes the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to voluntarily increase prize money to match comparable ATP 500 events.
“We’re excited to welcome Emma back to Charleston,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “She represents the strength of American tennis and the remarkable talent that continues to come out of our Charleston community. Our attendees have followed her journey for years, watching her rise from a local standout to one of the sport’s top competitors. Having Emma compete here again brings a sense of pride and excitement to next year’s tournament.”
Navarro has played in front of her home crowd six times, with her best result coming this past April when she reached the quarterfinals, falling to fellow American Amanda Anisimova in a hard-fought match that featured two tight sets.
“I absolutely love coming back to Charleston. Playing in my hometown means so much to me, and having my family, friends and the incredible fans in the stands makes it truly special,” said Navarro. “I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a city that champions women’s tennis and has supported me every step of the way as I chase my dream. Getting the chance to compete at home is something I never take for granted, and I’m really looking forward to being back next spring.”
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 24 players, and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island.
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the way for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and compensation in the sport. The tournament has a long history of breaking new ground in tennis, having been the first women’s tennis event to offer $100,000 in prize money in 1973 and the first to be broadcast live on network television. The inaugural champion, Rosie Casals, received a check for $30,000, which was the largest prize money payout awarded to a woman that year. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event relocated to Charleston in 2001 and is now played at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to Credit One Stadium.
Tickets are currently on sale at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling (843) 856-7900. For additional information,email info@creditonestadium.com or visit creditonecharlestonopen.com.
When purchasing tickets for the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open, patrons have the option to choose from single session tickets and a limited number of ticket packages, including the Intro Package and MUSC Family Weekend Package. Packages provide exclusive and premier views of the court, as well as the best value on tickets. Special discounts are available for juniors, seniors, USTA members and military members. Juniors aged 16 and under receive complimentary general admission with the purchase of an adult ticket, courtesy of Credit One Bank.