Australian Open Champion Madison Keys to Compete in 2026 Credit One Charleston Open

AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION MADISON KEYS TO COMPETE IN 2026 CREDIT ONE CHARLESTON OPEN

World No. 6 and 2019 Charleston champion Madison Keys will compete in the Charleston Open for the 13th time next year

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Credit One Charleston Open, North America’s largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament, has announced 2025 Australian Open champion and World No. 6 Madison Keys will return for her 13th consecutive Charleston Open, March 28 – April 5, 2026, on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC. Keys, who captured the Charleston title in 2019 and claimed her maiden Grand Slam victory at this year’s Australian Open, holds 10 WTA titles and boasts a Grand Slam win-loss record of 122–48, reaching the quarterfinals or better at 12 Grand Slams throughout her career.

As the kickoff event of the WTA Hologic Tour’s clay season, the Credit One 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 are very proud to welcome Madison Keys back to Charleston for 2026. As a past champion and a lifelong friend of the tournament, she holds a special place in our history and in the hearts of our fans,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “We are looking ahead to a big year for our event, with equal prize money being granted for the first time, a world-class field of competitors and new attendee experiences that will elevate the tournament in fresh and meaningful ways. We are especially grateful to Credit One Bank for their continued partnership and shared commitment to investing in women’s tennis.”

Keys has had a strong 2025 season, where she won back-to-back tournaments in Australia, capturing title nine in Adelaide and ten, her first Grand Slam, in Melbourne at the Australian Open. The American also reached the semifinals in Indian Wells and London (The HSBC Championships), and advanced to the quarterfinals in Auckland, Madrid, Montreal and Roland-Garros.

Keys owns an impressive record in Charleston. In addition to her 2019 title, she was a finalist in 2015, reached the semifinals in 2018, and made quarterfinal appearances in 2013 and 2023. She holds a 21-11 career record on the tournament’s signature green clay.

“Charleston is one of my absolute favorite tournaments. The fans are amazing, the city is beautiful and the event always feels so welcoming,” said Keys. “I’ve played here every year since I was a teenager. I’ve never missed it, and I never want to. Coming back for the 13th time just feels really special, like coming home.”

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.

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 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. 

Ticket packages will be available for purchase beginning October 15 at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling (843) 856-7900. For additional information, please email tickets@charlestontennisllc.com or visit creditonecharlestonopen.com.