Shelby Rogers, tour player and tour guide, highlights Charleston's charms

CHARLESTON, S.C.—She wasn’t able to capture an elusive title at her hometown event, but it was still an unforgettable week in Charleston for Shelby Rogers.

The main reason is because of what happened off the court: on the Friday before the Credit One Charleston Open, the 30-year-old from Mount Pleasant, S.C. posted photos of the marriage proposal she lovingly accepted.

“Actually, the photographer who helps with the tournament, Chris [Smith] was there, so that was super special,” Rogers told us in Charleston.

Smith had plenty of other opportunities to capture Rogers in the Lowcountry, as she won two three-set matches (over Americans Danielle Collins and Caty McNally), both times recovering from a tiebreak first-set loss with a 6-1 third-set finish.

Not that Rogers had to win to continue her stay in Charleston, of course, but the Mount Pleasant, S.C. native surely had a better time off the court because of what transpired on it.

“Even for me, this city is changing so much,” she says. “There’s way more traffic now, people are falling in love with this city.”

Between Charleston’s food, history, architecture—and tennis—take Rogers’ word on a place that may not be a best-kept secret any longer, but remains one of the best places you can visit: