ASHLEIGH BARTY, WORLD NO. 1 AND REIGNING FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION, JOINS 2020 VOLVO CAR OPEN FIELD

Barty captured the season-ending WTA Finals title this past week, taking home the largest prize money amount in the history of professional women’s tennis

CHARLESTON, S.C. – World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty will compete in the 2020 Volvo Car Open, April 4 – 12 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC. Barty is the reigning French Open champion and the newest winner of the WTA Finals. She joins fellow Grand Slam champions Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens and Garbiñe Muguruza in the 2020 player field, as well as fellow top 10 players Halep, Belinda Bencic and Kiki Bertens.

“I am so proud of what my team and I have been able to accomplish this year, it has been an incredible season,” said Barty. “I’m looking forward to continuing the momentum in 2020. I’m thrilled to add the Volvo Car Open to my tournament schedule and return to Charleston, one of my favourite places to play and visit.”

Barty’s 2019 season included a series of firsts for the 23-year-old Australian. She won her first Premier Mandatory title at the Miami Open, her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, her first WTA Finals title in her tournament debut and she reached the World No. 1 ranking for the first time. Barty is the first Australian woman to be ranked number one in the world in more than 40 years.

In addition, she captured the title in Birmingham and reached the finals in Sydney and Beijing.

The 2020 Volvo Car Open is Barty’s second time competing in Charleston’s main draw. She reached the fourth round in 2018.

“This will be an opportunity for our fans to see for themselves what an incredibly talented, tenacious and likeable competitor Ash Barty is,” said Tournament Manager Eleanor Adams. “It’s an honor for us to welcome her back to our tournament – this time as the number one player in the world!”

The WTA Finals offered a record-breaking $14 million in prize money for the year-end tournament. By winning the event, Barty received $4.42 million, the largest prize money for a winner in women’s tennis given out to date.

The Volvo Car Open will celebrate its 20th year in Charleston in 2020. The tournament relocated to Charleston from Hilton Head Island, where it was held from 1973 – 2000.

The nine-day Volvo Car Open is the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America. The event attracts an average of 90,000 attendees and more than 100 of the top singles and doubles tennis players to Charleston every year.

Patrons have the option to choose from individual tickets, ticket packages and travel packages. Ticket prices range from $25 for an individual session to $540 for an all-inclusive weeklong package with complimentary access into a private hospitality suite. The Volvo Car Open also offers packages that include premium seats, ticket savings and membership into the tournament’s Ace Club.

For more information on the tournament and ticket options, visit volvocaropen.com or call 843.856.7900.