Elina Svitolina Makes Tennis Return in Charleston Draw
Former top-10 player returns to Tour after motherhood; to host ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ Pro-Am benefitting Ukraine
More than a year since her last tennis match in Miami, Elina Svitolina will return to
the Hologic WTA Tour at the 2023 Credit One Charleston Open. The former World No. 3 has accepted a main draw wild card into the Credit One Charleston Open, the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America. The tournament, which was named the 2022 WTA 500 Tournament of the Year, is the annual clay season kickoff on the Hologic WTA Tour. The Charleston Open is scheduled April 1 – 9 in the renovated and modernized Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Ukrainian joins a Charleston player field featuring seven of the world’s top 15 players, five former champions and four Grand Slam champions.
Svitolina gave birth to her first child in October and has focused much of her time and energy on bringing awareness and support to her home country amidst the war in Ukraine. In continuation of these efforts, Svitolina has partnered with the Charleston Open and WTA Charities to host a special Tennis Plays for Peace Pro-Am in April, benefitting Ukraine and the Elina Svitolina Foundation.
The Tennis Plays for Peace initiative seeks “to bring the tennis community and fans together to support the humanitarian relief efforts for the war in Ukraine.” The tournament, in conjunction with WTA Charities, hosted a Pro-Am in 2022, raising $100,000 in donations for relief efforts in Ukraine.
“Increasing awareness and raising funds for Ukraine is very important to us as a tournament and to our players,” said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Credit One Charleston Open and President of Charleston Tennis LLC. “We are passionate about working with Elina, who has a deep and personal understanding of the needs in her home country right now, to further exemplify the mission of Tennis Plays for Peace and stand united with Ukraine.”
Svitolina is Ukraine’s most accomplished women’s tennis player. Her tennis career includes 16 WTA titles and she has advanced to the quarterfinal round or better at least once, in all four Grand Slams. In 2019, she appeared in both the Wimbledon and US Open semifinals.
The 2023 Credit One Charleston Open will be her second time in the field, reaching the third round in 2014.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 56 players, a qualifying draw of 32 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, recently renovated and modernized the 20-year-old facility. 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 celebrated its 50th year in 2022. The tournament 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 for the 2023 tournament can be purchased online at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling (843) 856-7900. When purchasing tickets for the 2023 Credit One Charleston Open, patrons can choose from single session tickets ($25+) from Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, April 9. All tournament packages have officially sold out for the 2023 tournament, inclusive of all 100 and 200 level packages.
For additional information, please email tickets@charlestontennisllc.com. For more information on the Credit One Charleston Open, visit creditonecharlestonopen.com or call 843-856-7900.
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