2021 Volvo Car Open - Clay Court Season Begins

Yulia Putintseva advances on Monday

 The 2021 Volvo Car Open on Daniel Island is the first clay court tourney of the year. The VCO and other clay court matches will be on the road to Roland Garros when the French Open is held in May. The 2021 edition of the VCO is unique because it will not be open for fans to attend due to Covid-19 protocol. The entire tournament will be televised on the Tennis Channel again in 2021. The tournament is under new ownership and the stadium court is undergoing a major renovation

Volvo Car Open Trophy

presently, and promises to be a more modern facility for the future.

The weather in Charleston for the weekend qualifying matches and the rounds played on Monday and Tuesday was nothing short of 'Chamber of Commerce' days. The promos on the Tennis Channel between matches depict Charleston as a delightful city to visit, and when spring brings warm temps with low humidity, it certainly lives up to that billing. Four past champions were signed up to play in 2021, but two of them had to withdraw with injury at the last minute. 2014 Champ Andrea Petkovic and 2018 Champ Kiki Bertens withdrew, leaving 2016 Champ Sloane Stephens and 2019 Champ Madison Keys in it.

This year 17-year old Coco Gauff will make her VCO debut, and has been living up to expectations ever since she beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2017. To read more about Gauff and her experience thus far in the Women's Tennis Association click here.

The 2021 VCO will partner with the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital at MUSC. To raise money they will let players Swing With a Cause at a target at the Althea Gibson Court.

Coco Gauff makes her VCO debut in 2021

Finally, the WTA 250 'Funament' will be held on Daniel Island the week after the VCO. This 32-player event will showcase tennis for fun, and likely is going to be unique to 2021. 

To view past blog entries from the Volvo Car Open click on 2019 - 2018- 2017 -  2016- 2015- 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009