Moving on from the Serena Williams era was always going to be tough. Add Naomi Osaka’s break from the sport and Ash Barty’s early retirement to that, and it looked like women’s tennis might hit a lull. But Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff had other plans. The new Big Three are keeping fans glued to the screen with their fierce rivalry. That excitement is showing in the numbers. Last year, the WTA’s global audience grew by 10%, hitting a record 1.1 billion across broadcast and streaming platforms. Women’s sport isn’t just alive—it’s thriving. That’s exactly why Sofia Kenin thinks women are the moment!

Right now, the Charleston Open is taking center stage as the first clay tournament of the WTA season. And it’s already a blockbuster. An all-American final is locked in, with Jessica Pegula and Sofia Kenin set to face off. The last time this happened was way back in 1990, when Martina Navratilova beat Jennifer Capriati in the final.

Sofia Kenin is making a real comeback. She won the Australian Open in 2020, reached a career-high No. 4 in the PIF WTA Rankings, and also made the French Open final that same year. But since then, she’s struggled. By the end of 2022, she had dropped to No. 235. Still, Kenin didn’t give up. The 26-year-old’s been building her way back up, and this Charleston run proves it.

She was the only unseeded player in the quarterfinals and made it to the final after Amanda Anisimova retired due to a back injury while trailing 5-2 in the first set of their semifinal clash. After the match, Kenin sent out a kind message to Anisimova in her interview with Tennis Channel, wishing her a quick recovery. That moment quickly shifted to a conversation about women’s sports—and the energy was electric.

Even the interviewers were wearing T-shirts that read, “Everyone watches women’s sports.”

Talking about the rise of interest in women’s sports, the former Australian Open champ said, “Women are bad*****.”

“You know, we’ve got the superpower. And you know we obviously bring out great level in our games. And there’s a lot of drama and emotions, which everyone loves to see on the court. That’s the beauty of tennis. So, like I said, we’re bad*****. Watch out, guys.”

Kenin’s not wrong. Women’s sports are having a moment. Proof?

Women’s sports organizations experienced a significant financial upswing in 2024, generating $1.88 billion according to Deloitte. This figure not only marked the first time the sector surpassed the billion-dollar mark, but also substantially exceeded Deloitte’s initial forecast of $1.28 billion. This impressive growth follows revenues of $981 million in 2023 and $692 million in 2022. Looking ahead, a continued strong growth is anticipated, projecting global revenue for women’s sports organizations to reach $2.35 billion in 2025, a substantial 25% increase driven largely by commercial revenue.

From tennis’ point of view, the 2024 Paris Olympics was the first with full gender parity among athletes. Tennis is also the first to offer equal prize money at major tournaments. The sport’s legend, Serena Williams, is also doing her bit to keep that momentum going.

Along with WNBA star Caitlin Clark, she’s been promoting women’s sports in front of the NFL—one of the richest sports leagues in the world. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is also walking the talking.

Since 2020, she, her husband Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia have been part of the Angel City FC ownership in the National Women’s Soccer League. And just last month, she joined the ownership group behind Toronto Tempo, which will debut in the WNBA in 2026.

Well, Kenin’s Charleston opponent, Jessica Pegula, is proud of that legacy. In an interview with Tennis Channel, she said, “To be a part of a sport that has led that trend for a long time as far as being the highest-paid women’s sport in the world, I’m very proud to be a part of that sport, and I hope we just keep continuing to inspire and motivate the next generation of young girls that are hopefully going to be the ones making even more money and have even more people watching them for years to come.”

As for the Charleston Open final, it’s going to be a big one. Two Americans. One trophy. Kenin is fired up and ready to take on Pegula.

Sofia Kenin reveals she will come out “swinging” against Jessica Pegula

Sofia Kenin booked her spot in the final by overcoming some serious competition. The 26-year-old battled through Daria Kasatkina, Anna Kalinskaya, and other tough players on her way. Jessica Pegula will prove to be a major obstacle, though.

Sharing her excitement in the same interview, the 26-year-old said, “Well, one American is going to win the title, so that’s great! I think it’s great for American tennis, for the crowd, and for everyone. I’m excited for the match tomorrow! She played well obviously so, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m gonna come out swinging and if you can make the conditions a little bit easier, it would be nice to have a fair shot tomorrow.”

On the other hand, for Pegula, “an all-American final will be a lot of fun.”

Pegula currently leads the head-to-head with three wins in five matches against Kenin. But a win here would be massive for Kenin. It would be her first title in five years and push her back into the Top 25. One match, two stars, and a shot at history. Who’s coming out on top—Kenin or Pegula?