Pegula Commits to Charleston Title Defense in 2026

2025 Charleston champion and World No. 5 Jessica Pegula will return to defend her title at the 2026 Credit One Charleston Open. The nine-time WTA title winner is in the process of capping off another banner season – she’ll attend next week’s WTA Finals in Riyadh as one of four Americans in the singles field. Pegula, who added three trophies to her resume this year and reached the semis at the US Open, will be joined by World No. 8 and defending Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who committed to Charleston early in October. 

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. After being a semifinalist in both 2023 and 2024, finally breaking through and winning the title in 2025 was such a special career moment,” Pegula said in a statement. “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.”