Charleston Open WTA 500 Preview
The 2025 Charleston Open 500 boasts five former champions in the field for this year’s event beginning Monday in Charleston, South Carolina.
Defending champion Danielle Collins is one of those former champs in the field, and she’ll have several, including reigning Australian Open Madison Keys while fellow American and local favorite Emma Navarro seeks her first Charleston Open crown.
Join me as I preview the field and offer some short tidbits about the first and potential second-round matches for the seeded players, sleepers, and more for the Credit One Charleston Open 500, beginning Monday, March 31.
Har Tru Tennis Courts
More commonly referred to as green clay, the Har Tru courts are much faster in Charleston than the European crushed red brick or red dust surfaces they’ll spend the rest of their spring on.
The crunchy surface favors big servers like Madison Keys but gives an edge to all-court players like hometown favorite Emma Navarro.
Defending Champs in the Field
Danielle Collins (2024)
Belinda Bencic (2022)
Veronika Kudermetova (2021)
Madison Keys (2019)
Daria Kasatkina (2017)
Pegula Favorite in Solid Top Charleston Open Field
Jessica Pegula is the top seed when the Credit One Charleston Open begins on Monday, March 31.
Pegula, fresh off her Miami Open final loss, meets the winner of Heather Watson vs. a qualifier. Pegula’s steady baseline game and top-10 consistency make her a favorite on green clay.
Pegula’s Charleston Open Challengers
Peyton Stearns is rising and meets the winner of Ajla Tomljanovic vs. a qualifier. Stearns’ power suits this faster clay surface, but she must pass Pegula.
Qinwen Zheng faces Maria Sakkari or Marina Stakusic. Zheng is an aggressive hitter, but Sakkari’s past clay court success could lead to an upset that isn’t an upset.
Elise Mertens plays Harriet Dart or Varvara Gracheva. Mertens’ versatility gives her the edge, but Gracheva’s clay skills can make her dangerous.
Ekaterina Alexandrova faces Ann Li or Anna Blinkova. Alexandrova’s power can falter on clay, and Li and Blinkova could trouble her.
Diana Shnaider meets Polina Kudermetova or Irina-Camelia Begu. Shnaider’s made great strides, but Begu has some clay court expertise, while Kudermetova is becoming a threat.
Jelena Ostapenko faces Belinda Bencic or Erika Andreeva. The former Roland Garros champ’s game suits clay, but Bencic’s craftiness and Andreeva’s fearlessness could test her.
Danielle Collins the defending champ, plays Viktoriya Tomova or Robin Montgomery. Collins isn’t playing well, and Tomova’s clay skills will challenge her fiery style.
Top Half Overview
The Favorites: Pegula and Schnaider are the standout names. Pegula’s consistency and Schnaider’s improving skills give them the edge to reach the semifinals from this half.
Ostapenko is a never-know, and I don’t like Collins’ form coming into her tourney defense.
Sleepers: Sakkari could upset Zheng and make a deep run. Begu’s clay expertise might see her challenge Shnaider. Bencic is fitter and becoming dangerous again.
Keys/Navarro Charleston Open Semi?
Madison Keys plays Caroline Dolehide or Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Keys hasn’t played well since winning Down Under, but she’s a former champ here, although Cocciaretto’s clay movement could challenge her.
Emma Navarro opens against either Olivia Gadecki or Hailey Baptiste. Navarro, a local favorite, should handle either with her versatile game and home crowd support.
Ashlyn Krueger faces Katie Volynets or a qualifier. Krueger’s power struggles on clay, and Volynets’ defense could frustrate her. An upset is possible.
Daria Kasatkina faces Lauren Davis or a qualifier. Kasatkina is a former champ (2017), which should give her an edge.
Magdalena Frech plays Sofia Kenin or Bernarda Pera. Frech is steady, but Kenin’s a former GS champ and always an early-round upset threat.
Amanda Anisimova faces Maria Mateas or Veronika Kudermetova. Anisimova’s power suits clay, but Kudermetova’s aggression makes this tight.
Yulia Putintseva meets Lucia Bronzetti or a qualifier. Putintseva’s counterpunching gives her the edge, though Bronzetti’s clay skills could test her.
Anna Kalinskaya faces Anhelina Kalinina or a qualifier. Kalinskaya is solid, but Kalinina’s clay skills make this a potential upset.
Charleston Open Bottom Half Overview
Favorites: Keys and Navarro are my top picks to meet in the semis.
Keys’ Charleston pedigree and Navarro’s home support give them strong chances for the semifinals.
Kasatkina could either run through the field or back home to Australia. Anisimova has a cut on her hand, so her run may end early.
Sleepers: Kalinina’s clay expertise could see her upset Kalinskaya and test Keys. Kenin’s grit might lead to a deep run if she gets past Frech.
Flashes Corner Credit One Charleston Open Prediction
This tournament is a toughie.
Collins should be the most motivated but is 5-8 straight up since the Paris Games.
She would not only need to get past Ostapenko (1-2 H2H) and Pegula ( 0-5 H2H) but her shaky confidence.
The betting public likes Pegula-she’s 12-2 since the end of February with an Austin title and Miami Open Runnerup trophy.
Maybe she’s played too much tennis, but she has a nice draw and is the best player in the event.
Keys has been off and on injured since winning the Australian Open.
She’s a former champ-winning here could reignite the winning spark that’s disappeared since Melbourne.
The one I think with the best chance of winning is Navarro.
She’s a hometown kid who made an enormous leap into the Top 10.
Navarro has the game with the vocal hometown support necessary to defeat a beloved former champ (Keys) and anyone else opposing her.
Her draw is perfect to make a title run.
Navarro might have a tricky time in the quarters, but if she passes that test, she has the confidence of a 2-1 straight-up record over Keys if the two were to meet in the semis.
It all begins Monday–sign up for the Crush and Rush Tennis and Sports Betting Newsletter for Phil’s daily best bets and more.
