Important Tournament Update

Dear Volvo Car Open Fan,

As the highly anticipated 2021 tennis season kicks off this week in Australia, we wanted to share an important update with you regarding the Volvo Car Open in April.

When the WTA gave us the approval to move forward with planning our annual tournament, we had high hopes that the ongoing pandemic would not impact our ability to safely host the Volvo Car Open and welcome back a limited number of patrons. We have dedicated the past year to determining plans for our tournament, which included a proposed temporary stadium on Althea Gibson Club Court, while the Volvo Car Stadium is under renovation, and the development of health and safety protocols for the event. While we had remained optimistic about our intentions for the spring, we have been closely monitoring COVID-19 and watching the case count continue to rise in South Carolina.

After much deliberation, our team has made the difficult but necessary decision to host the 2021 Volvo Car Open without fans. We delayed this decision as long as we possibly could in hopes that the end result may be different. But, in order to successfully execute a fan experience that complies with all guidelines and requirements given by local government and health officials, we would need to begin building our event facilities this week. Unfortunately, with the ongoing high positivity numbers and the potential of unknown restrictions on travel to the U.S., we have concluded that the creation of a made-for-TV tournament is the best possible outcome for the 2021 Volvo Car Open.

Our commitment now is to produce an event that will provide players an opportunity to compete and earn a living, and offer fans a unique and engaging broadcast experience so they can enjoy the action from home. We are confident that the health and safety protocols we developed in partnership with the WTA and the Medical University of South Carolina will allow us to create a safe atmosphere for players, essential staff and operational partners. Both Tennis Channel and WTA Media have agreed to broadcast the Volvo Car Open, providing a full week of coverage for our fans both in the U.S. and abroad.

The last thing we want to do is disappoint our loyal ticket holders, volunteers, vendors and partners. We share your passion for the game and appreciate your overwhelming support, and hope you know how much we will miss celebrating with all of you in Charleston this year.

Patrons who purchased tickets for the 2021 Volvo Car Open will receive a full refund. Our Ticketing Director, Justin Huntman, will reach out to all 2021 ticket buyers via email with information on next steps.

Although we are devastated by these event updates, we are looking ahead to the future. We are making great progress with the Volvo Car Stadium renovations and are excited to unveil this reimagined space at the celebration of our 50th tennis event in 2022. Our upgraded venue will continue to provide unforgettable entertainment experiences with new state-of-the-art features and elevated patron services. Please continue to visit our website for Stadium updates and new event announcements.

Thank you again for your ongoing patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together. We hope you will tune in to watch the 2021 Volvo Car Open, April 3 – 11, from home and can’t wait to welcome you back to Charleston in 2022!

Sincerely, 

Bob Moran
Tournament Director