Americans Shine in WTA 500 Charleston Open as Round of 16 Begins

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Three American players advanced to the Round of 16 at the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open on Tuesday evening, marking a successful start for Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova, and defending champion Danielle Collins.

No. 2 seed Keys faced a challenging match against fellow American Caroline Dolehide, needing eight match points to secure her victory with a final score of 6-3, 7-6(4). Currently ranked a career-high No. 5 in the world, Keys lost her first four match points while leading 6-3, 5-4, as Dolehide fought back to push the second set into a tiebreak. Keys reflected on the tension of the match in her on-court interview following the win. “I think [Dolehide] started playing some of her best tennis at the end, and I think I got a little bit passive,” she said. “But I got it done, and I get to come back out and play another match here.”

Keys, who won the Charleston Open in 2019, expressed her love for the event and the city. “I’ve been coming here for more than the last decade, I love it here,” she said. “I always feel like this is one of my favorite places in the entire world, and I’m so happy to be back playing here.”

Defending champion Collins, the No. 7 seed, also advanced smoothly, defeating Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour. This victory marks Collins’ seventh consecutive win in Charleston, following her impressive title run last year, which included a 15-match winning streak. Collins emphasized her strong mindset on court, stating, “I’m most happy with my mindset and just being relentless. Going after my shots and just giving myself room to breathe.”

While Keys and Collins both emerged victorious, No. 8 seed Anisimova capped off the evening with her own impressive win, defeating 2021 Charleston champion Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2. Anisimova entered the match 0-2 against Kudermetova, making this victory particularly significant. “It’s always nice to be back, the first clay tournament of the year,” Anisimova remarked post-match. “Veronika’s a tough opponent, so I’m happy to be into the next round.” Anisimova, who previously reached the semifinals in Charleston in 2022, is aiming to surpass her best performance at a WTA 500 event.

In February, Anisimova secured her biggest career title at the WTA 1000 Doha. She is currently enjoying a career-best performance, having achieved a new high ranking of No. 16.