Charleston Open 2026 wildcards: Paula Badosa, Bianca Andreescu joined by brace of Americans ahead of first clay tournament

Tennis is set to switch from hardcourt to clay for a period of time as players must adapt to the new surface with the build-up to Roland Garros. While many of the tournaments are played on European soil, a whole host of talent will be sticking around in the United States at the Charleston Open from March 30 - April 5. The tournament has handed out its four wildcards, two going to Americans and the others to former talents of the sport.

It is a unique event compared to others. Instead of the traditional red clay, the tournament is played on green clay, a faster setting than the European red clay with many brilliant tennis players looking for a glorious start to their clay swing.

Reigning champion Jessica Pagula will stick around in her home country as she looks for more success. The same goes for former Australian Open champion Madison Keys who tasted success back in 2019. The two experienced Americans are joined by a new threat in the form of Iva Jovic. Ekaterina Alexandrova and Belinda Bencic will also be a threat in South California.

Sloane Stephens and Jennifer Brady both entered the Miami Open through wildcards. Stephens was the one able to get on top 6-4, 6-2 in a match with just six holds. Both players will be looking to tidy up their game as they both get rewarded with more tennis action at the top level in Charleston.

A former Roland Garros finalist, Stephens has proved her worth on the surface, winning her fourth WTA title in that event back in 2016 in a straight sets victory over Elena Vesnina. Her most recent WTA title also came on the surface in the Rouen Open. She was limited to just five matches in 2025 after a damaging right foot injury and is still trying to guide herself back into contention.

The same can be said for Brady. The 2021 Australian Open finalist suffered a foot and knee problem, which kept her out from August 2021 into 2023. She continued to have knee problems from 2024 onwards, making her most recent match before 2026 coming in the 2023 China Open. She made her return in an ITF 1000 tournament in San Diego, reaching the semi-finals. Entered as wildcards for both Indian Wells and the Miami Open, she would lose in the first round in both of them as she continues to get back to full match sharpness on the court. The Charleston Open offers another great chance to get some more high-level tennis into her system as she looks to climb back up the rankings.

The final two wildcards were offered out to a duo of very talented players who have seen what was promised to be glamorous careers taken away by injury troubles.

After winning the 2019 US Open, Andreescu would go on to have a career blighted by injuries, halting what could have been a career at the highest level of the sport. She has attempted to get back into the sport with a whole host of ITF tournaments to kick off the year. The Canadian made her return to the WTA Tour at the ATX Open and Indian Wells, losing in the first round. She would fail to qualify for the Miami Open, but has the chance to respond in a debut campaign in Charleston with another opportunity gifted to her.

Similar to Brady and Stephens, Andreescu had a matchup against Badosa in recent times. They met in the semi-finals of the WTA 125 event in Austin. Andreescu would go on to win in three sets before losing in the final.

Badosa, however, has come off this tournament the better, with her still in the Miami Open. She got past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-3 to set up a tie against Jovic. She looked to be back in business after reaching the 2025 Australian Open semi-final but again her season was impacted by injuries, specifically in her back. She has since tumbled to the cusp of the top 100 and is in desperate need for wins to keep her in position to compete in the biggest tournaments on the WTA Tour. She returns to Charleston for a fifth time, having reached the semi-final in 2021 and boasting last-eight appearances in 2022 and 2023.