CHARLESTON, S.C. – Credit One Bank has reinforced its commitment to the Credit One Charleston Open by extending its title sponsorship through 2031. Alongside this extension, Credit One is taking a significant step towards gender equality in sports by announcing equal prize money for players, starting in 2026. This decision further establishes Charleston as a leading venue on the Hologic WTA Tour.
This move elevates the Credit One Charleston Open, already the largest women`s-only professional tennis tournament in North America, to a pioneering position. It becomes the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to proactively implement equal prize money, well ahead of the 2033 deadline set for all single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events.
Amber Greenwalt, SVP of Brand and Advertising for Credit One Bank, stated, “Credit One is proud to continue sponsoring this esteemed all-women’s tennis tournament through 2031. Mirroring the Charleston Open’s legacy of empowerment since 1973, Credit One is dedicated to empowering individuals in their financial journeys. In line with this vision, we are delighted to confirm that starting next year, the Charleston Open champion will receive equal compensation to their male counterparts in comparable tournaments. This commitment underscores our dedication to promoting equity both on and off the court, championing progress and opportunity for all.”
Ben Navarro, Owner of the Credit One Charleston Open Tournament, added, “At the Credit One Charleston Open, we are committed to fostering an environment where every athlete is recognized and rewarded for their talent and hard work.
“Providing equal prize money in 2026 is a crucial step towards a more inclusive and fair future for tennis. We are proud to take this step as part of our ongoing commitment to fairness in sports and to set an example for future generations.”
The tournament boasts a history of groundbreaking achievements in tennis. It was 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. Rosie Casals, the inaugural champion, received a prize of $30,000, which was the largest sum awarded to a woman that year.
The prize money for the 2025 Credit One Charleston Open is set at $1,064,510. While projections for 2026 prize money were around $1.15 million, the commitment to equal pay will see the purse increased to match ATP 500 tournaments, which typically offer over $2 million. The final prize money for the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open will be confirmed once official figures for the 2026 season are released.
Navarro further commented, “The Credit One Charleston Open has consistently been at the forefront of promoting women in sports, and we are incredibly proud of our heritage. We have consistently broken attendance records, attracting over 90,000 attendees and 26 million international television viewers. As North America’s largest women’s-only tennis tournament and one of the longest-running women’s-only events in professional sports, we are not just celebrating our history – we are actively building the future.”
The Credit One Charleston Open marks the beginning of the clay season on the Hologic WTA Tour and has been recognized as the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the third consecutive year.
The nine-day Credit One Charleston Open features a singles draw of 48 players, a qualifying draw of 28 players, and a doubles draw of 16 players.
Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages Credit One Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, undertook renovations of the 20-year-old facility in 2022. These city-owned venue upgrades aimed to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players, and event management, enabling the venue to attract top-tier athletes and talent to Daniel Island. Funded by Ben and Kelly Navarro as a gift to the City of Charleston, the renovation modernized the site, creating the state-of-the-art Credit One Stadium.
Since 1973, the Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, leading the way for female tennis players to achieve equal recognition, respect, and compensation in the sport. Originally located on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is currently held at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to Credit One Stadium.
