The Credit One Charleston Open will commit $2.5 million to players in 2026, including $2.3 million in prize money and $200,000 for benefits, doubling the 2025 total. Tournament owner Ben Navarro, father of WTA player Emma Navarro, described the move as recognition of women's tennis quality. The increase aligns the WTA 500 event with men's counterparts, marking a milestone for the sport.
The Credit One Charleston Open, a WTA 500 tournament and the largest women's-only professional tennis event in North America, announced on February 10, 2026, a significant financial boost for its 2026 edition. Owner Ben Navarro committed a total of $2.5 million to players, comprising $2.3 million in on-site prize money—double the 2025 amount—and an additional $200,000 allocated to the Women's Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA). The WTBA supports players with services such as pension plans, health insurance, healthcare benefits, and education programs, including subsidized college tuition and online degrees through the University of Florida and Indiana University East.
This investment exceeds the WTA's 2026 minimum purse of $1,206,446 for 500-level events by $1,293,554 and positions Charleston as the first standalone WTA 500 to proactively match prize money levels of equivalent ATP events. Navarro stated, “Women’s tennis is delivering at a very high level right now, from the quality of competition to the engagement from fans, and this investment reflects that.” He added, “Offering equal prize money is about respecting the players and the work they put in, and aligning the tournament with the value of the game.”
The decision follows Credit One Bank's sponsorship extension through 2031, announced in April 2025, which included plans for equal prize money starting in 2026. The WTA noted this as a step toward equal pay at all 500-level tournaments by 2033 and at combined 1000/500 events by 2027.
Players reacted positively. Last year's champion Jessica Pegula said, “Seeing a tournament like Charleston commit to equal prize money matters. It shows that the work we put in and the level we compete at are being recognized. When tournaments continue to invest equally, it sends a clear message to current players and the next generation about where the sport is headed.” Emma Navarro, a local star and Navarro's daughter, commented, “Growing up in Charleston, this tournament has always meant so much to me. Seeing the Credit One Charleston Open take a historic step forward by offering equal prize money is a meaningful moment for our sport. It shows real leadership and a commitment to moving women’s tennis forward.” Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, called it “a huge moment for the legacy of our sport which sends a powerful message to the players, fans and the future of tennis.”
The tournament, played on green clay at Credit One Stadium in Daniel Island, South Carolina, runs from March 28 to April 5, 2026, featuring a 48-player singles draw, 24-player qualifying, and 16-team doubles. Confirmed participants include Americans Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, and Emma Navarro, plus Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic. The event, voted WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the fourth straight season by players, has a history of innovation, including being the first women's event to offer $100,000 in prize money in 1973 and introducing Electronic Line Calling Live in 2025. It attracts over 90,000 fans annually.
Broader context includes ongoing player efforts for increased Grand Slam prize money and welfare, led by figures like Pegula on the WTA Players’ Council. Players recently rejected a proposal from three majors for a player council, prioritizing substantive responses on economic issues amid an antitrust lawsuit by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association.
