Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
Jessica Pegula, ranked fifth in the world, will return to defend her title at the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open. A nine-time winner on the WTA Tour, including three titles this season, Pegula joins No. 8 Madison Keys in the field for the March 28-April 5 tournament on Daniel Island. “We are proud to welcome Jessie Pegula back to Charleston as our defending champion,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “Jess spent time training here early in her career, and it’s been incredibly special to watch her grow into one of the game’s top competitors. She’s not only earned her place among the world’s best, but she’s also earned the admiration of our fans, who have supported her journey every step of the way. Her return adds something truly meaningful to next year’s tournament.” Pegula will compete in the Charleston main draw for the eighth time. She holds a 16-6 win-loss record and was a two-time semifinalist (2023 and 2024) before capturing the title in 2025. "Coming back to Charleston for the Credit One Charleston Open means a lot to me. I’ve always loved playing there — the city, the fans, the energy — it just makes the experience so positive for us players,” said Pegula. “After being a semifinalist in both 2023 and 2024, finally breaking through and winning the title in 2025 was such a special career moment. The crowd support that week made it even more unforgettable, and I’m really excited to be back and compete in front of these amazing fans again at a tournament I love." In addition to her titles at Austin, Daniel Island and Bad Homburg, Pegula reached the finals in Adelaide, Miami and Wuhan and the semifinals at the U.S. Open and Beijing during a standout 2025 season that earned her a fourth consecutive qualification for the WTA Finals. In total, she currently holds an impressive 50-19 win-loss record this year. As the kickoff event of the WTA 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 as it was the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to voluntarily increase prize money to match comparable ATP 500 events. 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. Ticket packages are available for purchase at creditonecharlestonopen.com/ticket-packages or by calling 843-856-7900. For additional information, please email info@creditonestadium.com or visit creditonecharlestonopen.com.
