Top five players with most Charleston Open titles

Nine players have won the Charleston Open title two times or more.

The clay season on the WTA calendar officially kicks off with the Charleston Open, which takes place at Daniel Island, South Carolina. Since its inception in 1973, the tournament has favoured the Americans, especially in terms of titles.

The tournament is also one of the biggest clay events on US soil throughout the season. As a result, the stakes are always high at the Charleston Open. The competition has witnessed numerous champions in its history of more than five decades. However, only a few have won the title twice. Additionally, only a handful have won the title more than twice.

Thus, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the top five players with the most Charleston Open titles:

5. Tracy Austin, Gabriela Sabatini, Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Conchita Martínez: Two titles

The number five position is debatable, as five women have won the title twice. Tracy Austin played three finals at Charleston, winning two (1980 and 1981). In 1983, she lost to Martina Navratilova 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 in the summit clash. Gabriela Sabatini was the first South American woman to win the title. After disappointments in 1985 and 1988 against Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, respectively, she won two consecutive titles in 1991 and 1992.

Conchita Martínez also listed two consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. Meanwhile, Martina Hingis won titles in 1997 and 1999. Since 2000, only two players have won more than once, and one of them is Justine Henin. The former Belgian tennis star denied Serena Williams in 2003 to win her maiden title. Later, in 2005, she defeated two-time Grand Slam finalist Elena Dementieva.

Also Read: Charleston Open: Full list of winners

4. Serena Williams: Three titles

The only woman to win more than two titles at Charleston after 2000, Serena Williams’ on-court prowess is second to none. In 2008, she won her first title at the Daniel Island after beating Vera Zvonareva. Later, she returned in 2012 and picked up her second title by handing Lucie Šafářová a straight-set defeat. In 2013, Serena Williams defended her title by beating former Serbian tennis player Jelena Janković.

3. Martina Navratilova: Four titles

After losing her first final in 1975 to Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova reached the final at Charleston in 1982, where he crossed paths against countrywoman Andrea Jaeger. Nevertheless, Jaeger lost 6–4, 6–2 to Navratilova.

Next year, she defeated Tracy Austin to win her second title. After four years, she beat Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to win her third title. Navratilova’s last title came in 1990, when she didn’t drop a single set and stunned Jennifer Capriati in the one-sided final.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most WTA titles in Open Era

2. Steffi Graf: Four titles

Steffi Graf is the only player in the history of the Charleston Open to near Chris Evert in the final. Additionally, she was also the first non-American tennis star to win the title. Claudia Kohde-Kilsch reached the final in 1984 but lost 6-2, 6-3. The former German tennis ace won her first Charleston title in 1986 by beating Chris Evert.

She defended her title next year by stunning Manuela Georgieva Maleeva. In 1989, she defeated Natasha Zvereva and later long-term rival Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in 1993 to win her fourth and fifth titles, respectively.

1. Chris Evert: Eight titles

American tennis legend Chris Evert has won the most titles at Charleston. Her unparalleled flair and ability to control the tempo of the game helped her solidify her name as arguably the greatest in the history of Charleston Open. She won her first title at Hilton Head Island in 1974 after defeating Australia’s Kerry Melville.

Later, she won four consecutive titles from 1975 to 1978 without dropping a single set in the final. Evert also defeated Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King to win consecutive titles. She won her seventh title in 1984 by beating Germany’s Claudia Kohde-Kilsch and later defended her title in 1985 by stunning Gabriela Sabatini.

She came close to winning the title in 1986, but her hope for a ninth title was dashed by Steffi Graf.

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