As calendar turns to April and clay, Charleston offers an opportunity for One Shining Moment

HIGHLIGHTS: Bencic beats Jabeur in 2022 Charleston final

CHARLESTON, S.C.—The first day of the WTA’s Credit One Charleston Open is the last day of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. And on the first day of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, Furman University, located about four hours northwest of Charleston, became the talk of the sports world. The 13th-seeded Paladins—so, roughly the 50th-best team in the tournament—stunned the esteemed University of Virginia with a sequence of events that must still be seen to be believed:

It was, as the college hoops saying goes, One Shining Moment. And it was a reminder that such moments can happen anywhere, anytime, and in any sport.

Which leads to this question: who could play the role of Furman this week in Charleston?

Considering the depth of this year’s field, there are many possibilities. Four of the WTA’s Top 9 are beginning their Road to Roland Garros on Har-Tru, and nearly half of the Top 40 is here. But that assemblage of serious talent doesn’t even include Shelby Rogers, the South Carolina native and noted giant-killer; Sloane Stephens, a former US Open champion and French Open finalist; or Leylah Fernandez, runner-up at Flushing Meadows less than two years ago. It also doesn’t include the promising 17-year-old Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, 19-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider or 22-year-old American Alycia Parks. Or Varvara Gracheva, Anna Kalinskaya, Alize Cornet and Jule Niemeier—all of whom have posted noteworthy results over the past few months.

“We pride ourselves not on just that Top 10, Top 20 [presence]—we pride ourselves on a really deep field,” says Bob Moran, tournament director of the Credit One Charleston Open. “First ball to last ball, there are going to be great matches.”

Even the wild cards aren’t throwaways: Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion, and Elina Svitolina, former world No. 3—and a new mother—each received one.

“We’re a family event, and having Elina come back after having a baby is important—we really pride ourselves on that,” said Moran. “She came to us and said she wanted to make a comeback on tour, and we were more than happy to [help] do that.”

Looking at Charleston’s champions roll, this tournament’s penchant for surprise—which has often signaled further success—becomes apparent. Angelique Kerber and Stephens each won Charleston before going on to Grand Slam glory the following year. Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova announced themselves with titles in the Lowcountry, and their voices continue to pulsate through the sport. Since Serena Williams triumphed back-to-back here in 2012 and 2013, a new champion has been crowned each year.

Still, it would hardly be a surprise to see one of the top two seeds, Jessica Pegula or Ons Jabeur, lift the singles trophy on Sunday. (Even if one of them did, they’d be another in the long line of first-time Charleston titlists.) A year after the WTA took an unexpected turn into transition, following the shock retirement of Ash Barty—and later followed by Serena’s departure—these two, along with late withdrawal Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, have made seamless star turns.

With a Southern-fried blend of seasoned veterans and aspiring youngsters, Charleston once again boasts one the strongest 500-level draws in all of tennis. Consider Sabine Lisicki, who won the 2009 edition—and 14 years later, navigated her way through qualifying to return to the main draw. It says something about the place that the 33-year-old German would go through it all.

“After having an injury that I was never meant to play tennis again, on a professional level, it’s sort of a dream come true to be back here,” said a beaming Lisicki after successfully qualifying on Sunday.

“Charleston has a very special place in my heart. “It’s just so, so nice to be back.”