CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, February 20, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
As the Credit One Charleston Open continues to build upon its strong player field for next month’s WTA 500 event on green clay, the latest commitment has come from 18-year-old American and current World No. 20 Iva Jovic, who will make her Lowcountry debut in North America’s largest women’s-only pro tournament.
Jovic’s entry into the WTA Tour’s annual kick-off to the spring clay season marks the sixth Top 20 player in the 2026 Charleston field. It follows her breakthrough run to last month’s Australian Open quarterfinals and rapid rise up the WTA rankings over the past eight months.
Born in California to Serbian parents, Jovic broke into the Top 100 and then rose to the Top 50 after capturing her first WTA Tour title in Guadalajara, Mexico last September. She advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2026 Australian Open, rising into the Top 20 for the first time in her career.
Jovic joins fellow Top 20 players Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Belinda Bencic, Madison Keys and Emma Navarro in this year’s Charleston Open player field for the tournament’s 54th edition, which is set to take place at Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island from March 28 to April 5.
“I’m excited to be playing Charleston for the first time. It’s a tournament with a lot of tennis history, and I’m looking forward to competing there next month,” Jovic said in a statement. “I’ve been building my game this year, week after week, and I’m focused on bringing a high level of tennis into my clay season.”
After capturing her first WTA title in Guadalajara last season, Jovic has continued her rise with a final in Hobart, a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open and a career-high ranking.
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) February 19, 2026
At age 17, Jovic captured her maiden WTA title in Guadalajara in just her 10th tour-level main draw appearance, reaching her first WTA Tour quarterfinal, semifinal and final en route to the win. She became the youngest player to win a WTA title since Coco Gauff in 2021 at Parma. This season, Jovic has advanced to the semifinals in Auckland, the final in Hobart and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“We are proud to welcome Iva to Charleston for the first time,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, in a statement. “At the Credit One Charleston Open, we are committed to showcasing the next generation of talent in women’s tennis, and Iva represents the future of American tennis. Her rapid rise on the WTA Tour over the past year, highlighted by her first WTA title and a breakthrough run at the Australian Open, reflects both her work ethic and competitive drive. We look forward to seeing her compete on the green clay and to introducing our fans to one of the game’s emerging young talents.”
In 2024, Jovic made her US Open debut after earning a main draw singles wild card by winning the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships. She went on to secure her first Grand Slam main draw victory, becoming the youngest American to win a women’s main draw match at the US Open since 2000. Earlier that same year, she garnered two junior Grand Slam titles in girls’ doubles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
The award-winning Credit One Charleston Open is held annually at Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston. It has been named WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for four consecutive years – in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Last April, Credit One Bank extended its title partnership through 2031 and announced the tournament will offer $2.5 million in equal prize money beginning in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the event. The increase reflects the bank’s commitment to advancing investment and opportunity in women’s sports and further positions Charleston as a leader on the WTA Tour. With this move, the Credit One Charleston Open became the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to voluntarily raise prize money.
