Charleston 2026 Entry List: Pegula Headlines Strong WTA 500 Field Updated March 7
Update – March 30, 2026
🌴 Charleston 2026: Green Clay Command Center
The Credit One Charleston Open is set! With Jessica Pegula leading a powerhouse field, the transition to the green clay begins with a loaded main draw.
The Charleston entry list has expanded significantly, with several additional Top 30 players now confirmed, including Diana Shnaider, Leylah Fernandez, and Maria Sakkari.
The confirmed player list below has been updated to reflect the latest commitments.
The Charleston WTA 500 2026 Entry List is beginning to take shape, and the tourney already has weight.
Defending champion Jessica Pegula leads a field that includes multiple Top 20 players and rising stars, signaling a strong start to the clay season in South Carolina.
Pegula will be joined by Top 10-level talent, including Amanda Anisimova, Belinda Bencic, and Madison Keys, giving the tournament legitimate star power at the top of the draw.
Ekaterina Alexandrova, a two-time Charleston semifinalist, also returns, adding proven green clay experience to the mix.
Rising American Iva Jovic continues her steady climb and further strengthens an already deep early field.
Crush & Rush News: ATP & WTA Entry Lists
Stay ahead of the draw. Get the definitive look at the field before the first ball is struck.
Confirmed Players for Charleston 2026
The following players are currently confirmed for the 2026 Charleston WTA 500:
- Jessica Pegula (USA) – No. 5
- Amanda Anisimova (USA) – No. 6
- Ekaterina Alexandrova – No. 11
- Belinda Bencic (SUI) – No. 12
- Madison Keys (USA) – No. 15
- Iva Jovic (USA) – No. 18
- Diana Shnaider – No. 20
- Elise Mertens (BEL) – No. 21
- Anna Kalinskaya – No. 22
- Emma Navarro (USA) – No. 25
- Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) – No. 26
- Leylah Fernandez (CAN) – No. 27
- Maya Joint (AUS) – No. 29
- Xinyu Wang (CHN) – No. 30
- Cristina Bucsa (ESP) – No. 31
- Maria Sakkari (GRE) – No. 34
- Magdalena Frech (POL) – No. 36
- Janice Tjen (INA) – No. 39
- Sara Bejlek (CZE) – No. 40
- Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) – No. 42
- Hailey Baptiste (USA) – No. 43
- Sofia Kenin (USA) – No. 45
- Peyton Stearns (USA) – No. 48
- Magda Linette (POL) – No. 49
- McCartney Kessler (USA) – No. 51
- Dayana Yastremska (UKR) – No. 52
- Varvara Gracheva (FRA) – No. 58
- Daria Kasatkina – No. 60
- Shuai Zhang (CHN) – No. 62
- Solana Sierra (ARG) – No. 65
- Anna Bondar (HUN) – No. 66
- Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) – No. 67
- Catherine McNally (USA) – No. 68
- Eva Lys (GER) – No. 70
- Oleksandra Oliynykova (UKR) – No. 73
- Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) – No. 76
- Ashlyn Krueger (USA) – No. 82
What Is Green Clay?
Green clay, also known as Har-Tru, is a clay surface made from crushed metabasalt. It plays differently than the red clay used in Europe.
It’s typically a little faster and plays lower than traditional red clay, but it still slows the ball compared to hard courts. Players can slide, rallies are extended, and movement matters.
Because it’s not as slow as red clay, strong servers and aggressive hitters can still have success, especially if they control the middle of the court.
That’s part of what makes Charleston unique. It’s clay, but it’s not the same clay players see in Madrid, Rome or Roland Garros.
Charleston Champions (Last 10 Years)
The green clay at Daniel Island has remained consistent, and the list of champions over the past decade shows the type of player who succeeds here.
- 2025 – Jessica Pegula
- 2024 – Danielle Collins
- 2023 – Ons Jabeur
- 2022 – Belinda Bencic
- 2021 – Veronika Kudermetova
- 2019 – Madison Keys
- 2018 – Kiki Bertens
- 2017 – Daria Kasatkina
- 2016 – Sloane Stephens
- 2015 – Angelique Kerber
Look at that list.
Players who move well. Players who can take a big shot, push it back deep, and change direction without losing control.
Charleston doesn’t usually produce random champions.
You have to build points here. You have to handle pressure. You have to finish.
Players to Watch
Iva Jovic
She’s 18-years-old and already ranked No. 18 heading into Indian Wells. The Charleston event is a big deal for an American woman, and I like her chances.
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Two semifinal appearances here. That’s not random. Some players just see the ball well in Charleston, and she’s one of them.
Stay Updated
The Charleston 2026 entry list will continue to evolve as additional player commitments are confirmed in the coming weeks.
With two WTA 1000 events still to be played before Charleston, rankings can shift, and momentum can change quickly.
This page will be updated as the field is finalized.
Crush & Rush News is your home for WTA Tour entry lists, draw analysis, and tournament coverage throughout the season.
Bookmark this page and check back for the latest updates as the clay swing begins to take shape.
Phil Naessens has spent decades in sports as a broadcaster, author, journalist, professional tennis coach, and betting analyst. As the founder and editor of Crush & Rush News and host of the Crush & Rush Tennis Podcast, he combines firsthand coaching experience with years of sports media and publishing to deliver thoughtful tennis analysis, tournament coverage, player features, and transparent betting insights built around value, and not hype.
