The humidity has arrived in Charleston. It was one of those days where the air sticks to your skin, but the tennis—and the moments—made it all worth it.
Daria Kasatkina’s Aussie Debut 🇦🇺
The highlight of the day had to be Daria Kasatkina playing her first match as an Australian tennis player.
It was a sweet moment, and the crowd didn’t miss the opportunity to lean in—“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” rang out across the court. Daria won her match in straight sets, and in her post-match interview, she spoke about how warm the reception has been and what this new chapter has meant to her.
Audio is included below.
A Busy Day for Fans and Media 🎤🎾
There was a buzz across the grounds today—not just from the matches but from all the player interviews, post-match press, and behind-the-scenes media moments happening everywhere.
One thing I’ve really loved seeing at this tournament: school groups. Several local schools brought kids to the grounds today, and honestly, I’ve always wondered why this isn’t more common.
Weekday tennis has so many open seats, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get young fans into the sport. Watching their excitement around the grounds made me hopeful that more tournaments will start to build these kinds of community connections.
Diana Shnaider’s Birthday Win + Bandana Rules 🎉
Today was also Diana Shnaider’s birthday—and she won her second-round match.
I talked to her in a one-on-one interview about what it’s like to play on your birthday (she’s not a fan) and how her success in doubles this season has helped her grow in singles. We also got into something very specific:
She only wears her bandana in singles. Never in doubles.
She’s very intentional about it.
Audio from that convo is below.
Kenin vs. Bencic: When the Buzz Takes Over 🐝
One of my favorite little tournament phenomena happened today:
Sofia Kenin took the first set against Belinda Bencic 6–0, and suddenly—the grounds started shifting.
You could feel the energy change as crowds picked up on what was happening and started making their way to the court. I love when this happens. It’s like word-of-mouth energy but in real time.
Instagram Q&A Is Live!
We’re keeping busy over on Instagram, too. Today we kicked off a Q&A, and we’ve been posting a bunch of behind-the-scenes content from the Charleston Open.
If you haven’t checked it out, you should—link below!
That’s all from Day 3. More from the grounds tomorrow—subscribe to keep up with the action!
Share this post