DATE: 02 Apr 2018 - 08 Apr 2018
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $800,000
FIELD SIZE: 64
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Daria Kasatkina
Seeds:
1 GARCIA, Caroline
2 KVITOVA, Petra
3 KASATKINA, Daria
4 STEPHENS, Sloane
5 GOERGES, Julia
6 KONTA, Johanna
7 KEYS, Madison
8 SEVASTOVA, Anastasija
9 BARTY, Ashleigh
10 OSAKA, Naomi
11 GAVRILOVA, Daria
12 BERTENS, Kiki
13 BEGU, Irina-Camelia
14 CORNET, Alizé
15 BUZARNESCU, Mihaela
16 VESNINA, Elena
Charleston is the oldest and second-largest city in the U.S state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline and is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, or, as is locally expressed, "where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean." Known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants, and mannerly people, Charleston has received a large number of accolades, including "America's Most Friendly [City]" by Travel + Leisure in 2011 and in 2013 and also "the most polite and hospitable city in America" by Southern Living magazine.
The Volvo Open formerly known as the Family Circle Cup has a rich history on green clay that dates back to 1973, the year all of women's professional tennis was united in becoming the WTA. It is the largest women's-only tournament in the world, and Family Circle magazine was the longest running title sponsor in men's or women's pro tennis.
At its maiden staging in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the Volvo Open was the first women's tennis event to offer $100,000 in prize money and the first to be broadcast on network TV. It moved to Amelia Island, Florida, in 1975, back to Hilton Head in 1977 and settled in its current home of Charleston in 2001.
The Volvo Open's list of champions reads like a roster of all-time greats, with names such as Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, four-time winner Steffi Graf, Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Conchita Martínez, four-time champ Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, three-time titlist Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Chris Evert was the most dominant, collecting a tournament-record eight titles.
The Original 9, the nine players who signed $1 contracts with World Tennis publications publisher Gladys Heldman in 1970 to compete in what would become the Virginia Slims Series, reunited at the Family Circle Cup's 40th anniversary in April 2012. One of them, Billie Jean King, had the stadium court named after her.
The Draw
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $800,000
FIELD SIZE: 64
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Daria Kasatkina
Seeds:
1 GARCIA, Caroline
2 KVITOVA, Petra
3 KASATKINA, Daria
4 STEPHENS, Sloane
5 GOERGES, Julia
6 KONTA, Johanna
7 KEYS, Madison
8 SEVASTOVA, Anastasija
9 BARTY, Ashleigh
10 OSAKA, Naomi
11 GAVRILOVA, Daria
12 BERTENS, Kiki
13 BEGU, Irina-Camelia
14 CORNET, Alizé
15 BUZARNESCU, Mihaela
16 VESNINA, Elena
Charleston is the oldest and second-largest city in the U.S state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline and is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, or, as is locally expressed, "where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean." Known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants, and mannerly people, Charleston has received a large number of accolades, including "America's Most Friendly [City]" by Travel + Leisure in 2011 and in 2013 and also "the most polite and hospitable city in America" by Southern Living magazine.
The Volvo Open formerly known as the Family Circle Cup has a rich history on green clay that dates back to 1973, the year all of women's professional tennis was united in becoming the WTA. It is the largest women's-only tournament in the world, and Family Circle magazine was the longest running title sponsor in men's or women's pro tennis.
At its maiden staging in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the Volvo Open was the first women's tennis event to offer $100,000 in prize money and the first to be broadcast on network TV. It moved to Amelia Island, Florida, in 1975, back to Hilton Head in 1977 and settled in its current home of Charleston in 2001.
The Volvo Open's list of champions reads like a roster of all-time greats, with names such as Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, four-time winner Steffi Graf, Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Conchita Martínez, four-time champ Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, three-time titlist Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Chris Evert was the most dominant, collecting a tournament-record eight titles.
The Original 9, the nine players who signed $1 contracts with World Tennis publications publisher Gladys Heldman in 1970 to compete in what would become the Virginia Slims Series, reunited at the Family Circle Cup's 40th anniversary in April 2012. One of them, Billie Jean King, had the stadium court named after her.
The Draw
