The Lowcountry's biggest annual tennis event kicks off March 28, and organizers are expecting a record-breaking 95,000 attendees over nine days at Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island.
For context: last year was 89,000 — itself a 25 percent jump from the year before. The momentum here is real.
The Credit One Charleston Open is already the largest women's tennis tournament in North America. This year, it feels like it's hitting a new gear.
The food situation is significantly upgraded.
The biggest addition is The Kitchen — a new 100-seat restaurant and bar deck featuring Lowcountry flavors, with a view overlooking the pickleball courts. (The name is a nod to pickleball's "kitchen" zone. Cute.) It's a proper sit-down spot in the middle of a tennis tournament, which is exactly the kind of thing that turns a sporting event into a day-long destination.
Opening weekend (March 28) brings a dedicated oyster roast hosted by OVG Hospitality at The Kitchen, with guest chef Jason Stanhope of Sullivan's Fish Camp shucking on site. All-you-can-eat oysters plus qualifying match access. That's a solid Saturday.
The Cooper Hotel is also on-site with Hotel Coco — an upgraded ticketed experience with drink specials, merch, and concierge dining in a private garden area. Event president Bob Moran told the Post & Courier the goal is to "give people a feel for what our hospitality culture is all about." Translation: fancy, but fun.
COCO Row and the food truck village round out the options.
Returning Charleston favorites like Sullivan's Fish Camp, Mpishi, Bodega, Verde, and Bon Banh Mi will be back on COCO Row. The Food Truck Village brings Wholly Cow Ice Cream, Page's Okra Grill, King of Pops, and Bangin' Vegan Eats, among others. Inside the stadium: Home Team BBQ and the Ultra Lounge.
The signature cocktail is "The First Serve" — butterfly pea flower-infused lemonade with Grey Goose Vodka. It turns purple. Very Instagram.
The on-court product is strong too.
Defending champion Jessica Pegula headlines a field that includes Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Belinda Bencic (2025 WTA Comeback Player of the Year), and Charleston's own Emma Navarro. That last one is worth showing up for on its own.
About 85 percent of tickets were pre-sold, and premium seating sold out in late 2025. If you're waiting on walk-up tickets for a good seat, you've waited too long. General admission is still available — and juniors 16 and under get in free with an adult ticket, courtesy of Credit One Bank.
One more thing worth knowing: the tournament broadcasts to 7 million domestic viewers and 25 million overseas. Charleston gets a full week of global exposure. That's not nothing.
Matches run March 28 through April 5. Tickets are on sale now.
This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you'd like to read that article.
