The 2008 Family Circle Cup had its official opening on Tuesday evening, as the 35th Anniversary Celebration Kick-Off took place on Family Circle Magazine Stadium court.

Opening the Stadium court celebration was the Burke High School marching band, a national award-winning marching band from the local area. Following their performance was a formal introduction of the entirte player field, where, one by one, the competitors in this year's tournament were introduced to the crowd and stood in line along the singles sideline. Announcing each player's arrival was none other than famed tennis journalist Bud Collins, who not only introduced the players but also gave the fans a few tips on pronunciation for some of the more difficult names. Among the players in attendance were the tournament's Top 2 seeds, Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova, although some equally-warm receptions went to well-known Americans Alexandra Stevenson, Jill Craybas and Lisa Raymond, as well as Family Circle Cup standout Patty Schnyder of Switzerland.

Once the entire line-up was introduced it was time for the players to give back to the fans, so each one of them tested their throwing arms and sent two autographed tennis balls into the stands, with many fans of all ages scrambling to catch a piece (or pieces) of tennis memorabilia. Following the exit of the players, the crowds were treated to a look back at the 35 years of the Family Circle Cup, in the form of a video hommage on Stadium court's big screen. The Citadel military college presented colors after the video and the national anthem followed, sung by local vocalist Haley Davis who has performed at the Cup for the third straight year. Rounding off the night was the tennis line-up, starting with a doubles match pitting Dinara Safina and Agnes Szavay against Americans Alexa Glatch and Varvara Lepchenko and the singles duel between megastar Serena Williams and Gisela Dulko.

The 35th Anniversary Celebration will continue throughout the week, highlighted by Saturday's return of six former champions - Rosie Casals, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Conchita Martinez and Iva Majoli.