Credit One Charleston Open – Player Party

It was another EXCITING year for me to be covering the Credit One Charleston Open!!!

Since 1973, the Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, creating milestones that over the years have directly influenced the popularity of women’s professional tennis. Much has changed over the years. But to this day, the tournament remains the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. This year’s roster included 5 of the Top 10 women on tour, 5 past champions, and 5 Grand Slam champions. Previous winners include notable names like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Madison Keys…and so many more!

After 2 days of qualifying rounds, the tournament welcomes all the main draw players, as well as those who made it through qualies, to a wonderful Player Party before the competition begins. This year’s Player Party was held at the historic Riviera Theater!

Credit One Charleston Open – Day 2

It was another EXCITING year for me to be covering the Credit One Charleston Open!!!

Since 1973, the Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, creating milestones that over the years have directly influenced the popularity of women’s professional tennis. Much has changed over the years. But to this day, the tournament remains the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. This year’s roster included 5 of the Top 10 women on tour, 5 past champions, and 5 Grand Slam champions. Previous winners include notable names like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Madison Keys…and so many more!

Day 2 was the second day of qualifying rounds. Plus there were more fun activities for Family Day, great autograph sessions, and lively player interviews by the always animated Bethanie Mattek-Sands!

Credit One Charleston Open – Day 1

It was another EXCITING year for me to be covering the Credit One Charleston Open!!!

Since 1973, the Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, creating milestones that over the years have directly influenced the popularity of women’s professional tennis. Much has changed over the years. But to this day, the tournament remains the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. This year’s roster included 5 of the Top 10 women on tour, 5 past champions, and 5 Grand Slam champions. Previous winners include notable names like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Madison Keys…and so many more!

Day 1 featured qualifying rounds, fun activities for Family Day, autograph sessions, and the Draw Party to determine the main draw singles bracket.

Iconic Photo Shoot with Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur

It was another EXCITING year for me to be covering the Credit One Charleston Open!!!

Since 1973, the Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, creating milestones that over the years have directly influenced the popularity of women’s professional tennis world-wide. Much has changed over the years. But to this day, the tournament remains the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. This year’s roster included 5 of the Top 10 women on tour, 5 past champions, and 5 Grand Slam champions. Previous winners include notable names like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Madison Keys…and so many more!

This year I kicked off my coverage with a private “Iconic Photo Shoot” with last year’s returning finalists, Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur.

Lucky Shots Tennis Tournament

I’ve been the official photographer of the Volvo Car Open for about 15 years in a row! So it was with great sadness that I received the news that the tournament had been cancelled this year due to the Corona Virus outbreak.

Last weekend I decided to get my “tennis photography fix” by bringing a camera to a local tennis tournament that Cami was playing in. The St. Andrews Tennis Center was hosting their Lucky Shots Tennis Tournament, which they do every year around St. Patrick’s Day. Phil, the athletic director, always does a great job with the tournament. Players come from all over the state to compete. I appreciated him letting me come out and photograph it.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the players for coming out, sharing their enthusiasm, and having an amazing time in spite of the current situation in America!

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VCO Media Day

It’s been 20 years since the Volvo Car Open chose Charleston as its new home!!! It’s hard to believe I’ve been the tournament’s official photographer for about 3/4 of that time. What an honor it was to see many of my photos of past champions on display!

To celebrate this milestone, the VCO hosted a Media Day at the beautiful Dewberry Hotel rooftop. Last year’s champion, Madison Keys, was a special guest…as were Mayor Tecklenburg, Tournament Director Bob Moran, Tournament Manager Eleanor Adams, Stephanie Mangini of Volvo Car USA, Helen Hill from the Charleston Visitors Bureau, and Richard Todd who is “The Voice” of the tournament. The event was hosted by America’s sweetheart, former #1 tennis player, Tracy Austin.

After the press conference, tennis demonstration, and networking luncheon, Madison and Tracy got a private tour of the new Meeting Street Academy, where Maddy shared about her new Kindness Wins initiative.

“Madison Keys has a passion for kindness. The 25-year-old American tennis star has made that passion into a mission, launching her new Kindness Wins initiative, a chance for Keys to embrace positivity and provide a platform to spread encouragement both within and outside the world of sports.”

It was a real pleasure being selected to photograph the VCO Media Day! Happy 20th Anniversary to the Volvo Car Open!!!

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VCO 2019 – Day 6

Semi-final Saturday at the Volvo Car Open was an absolutely thrilling

In doubles, the team of Anna-Lena GROENEFELD and Alicja ROSOLSKA as well as the team of Irina KHROMACHEVA and Veronika KUDERMETOVA are moving on to the finals. In singles, Caroline Wozniacki was too much for Petra Martic to handle. And Madison Keys was on fire against Monica Puig.

As an added bonus, the Invesco Series brought big name stars to the stage! It was thrilling to photograph legends Mats Wilander, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt as they duked it out on the court…and hammed it up for the crowd!

So the stage is set! Let’s see what happens at the finals?!?

VCO 2019 – Day 5

Day 5 at the Volvo Car Open delivered the drama!

Highlights included Madison Keys finally beating her friend Sloane Stephens for the first time in four attempts. Plus, Petra Martic upset the No. 9 seed, Belinda Bencic, to get to the biggest semi-final of her career. Others moving on to the semis included Caroline Wozniack, who beat a feisty Maria Sakkari, and Gold Medalist Monica Puig, who defeated Amarican Danielle Collins.

Any one of these final four could win the tournament.  Grab a ticket and come on out for some exciting tennis!

VCO 2019 – Day 4

And then there were EIGHT!!! The round of 16 at the Volvo Car Open saw some surprises, and the best players are rising to the top. Here are a few shots from the day’s action. Can’t wait to see who is left standing at the end of the week! 🙂

VCO 2019 – Day 3

We survived “Hump Day” at the Volvo Car Open! The best part was, the sun came out. YAY!!! There was a ton of AMAZING action, both on and off the courts. Here are a few selects from another incredible day of WTA tennis…

VCO 2019 – Day 2

Round 1 of the Main Draw at the 2019 Volvo Car Open is in the history books! It was a cold and windy day. But the light was great and the energy was electric!!!

The day started off with special appearance by former world number 1, Tracy Austin, at the Doubles & Bubbles Luncheon.  On the courts, former champions Andrea Petkovic, Sloane Stephens, and Kiki Bertens all sailed into the second round. Top sead Stephens had to fight hard for her win oveer a fiesty Sara Sorribes Tormo. American Amanda Anisimov put up a good fight, but lost to Petra Martic in three sets. Maria Sakkari triumphed in 3 sets.  Qualifier Kateryna Kozlova upset Kristyna Pliskova. And newcomer to the stage, Emma Navarro, really impressed fans with her game, going toe-to-toe with Laura Siegemund before falling to the former semifinalist. Navarro is a Charleston native, and was making her first ever official WTA appearance on the tour!

Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Day 3…

VCO 2019 – Day 1

Qualifying rounds are completed. The main draw has been set. And Day 1 of the Volvo Car Open was full of triumphs and defeats!

Early in the day I had a great time photographing all the amazing ball crew when Kristyna Pliskova made a special appearance.

Another highlights of the day was photographing the Top 8 seeds at the Media All Access Hour, including Sloan Stephens, Anastasija Sevastova, Caroline Wozniacki, Julia Goerges, Kiki Bertens, Aryna Sabalenka, and Danielle Collins.

But the real show-stopper was when an emotional Shelby Rogers won her first match back on the tour after a difficult year of recovery after a scary knee surgery!

Stay tuned for Day 2…