ATX Open 2024: Opening Weekend
Watching tennis is great. Watching it live is even better.
It’s back. Austin’s only top-tier professional tennis tournament is back for a second year, and no one is more excited than me. That I know of anyway.
A few years ago, I got back into tennis, both as a spectator and a player. (Like golf, that’s kind of how tennis works, the two experiences feeding off each other.) I essentially missed the 20 years from the mid 90’s on. That meant most of Serena, Venus, Roger, and Rafa. There’s been plenty of Novak, so no lack there.
Once I had the Tennis Channel, I was all in, watching tournaments year round. I got to know the players, the styles, the storylines. There’s a lot to go around.
When it was announced that Austin was getting a pro tournament, it was too good to be believed. One year ago, I saw my first professional tennis in person. (Technically that happened in 1983 when John McEnroe and Vitas Gerulaitis played an exhibition match at the Amarillo Civic Center, but that doesn’t really count.) It was a great week, and it had me jonesing for more.
Saturday: Qualifiers on the house!
Technically, the main draw of the tournament doesn’t start till Monday, but for the two preceding days, audiences are treated to a slew of qualifying matches. Twenty-four players are vying for six slots in the tournament proper. This year, the tournament gave out free tickets so that anyone could come enjoy the action.
I caught a couple of matches, both on the main stadium court. American Sachia Vickery came back from down a set to beat Canadian Carol Zhou. For the opening match of the entire tournament, it ended up being a long one, and could have gone longer. Clocking in at exactly three hours, two tight sets turned into a runaway by Vickery to seal the deal 6-1 in the third. The temps were nice, but the sun was pretty brutal. This was a hard fought win.
The player I was most excited to see (maybe even for the whole tournament) ended up being in qualifying. I’ve always enjoyed watching Shelby Rogers play, and her addition to the tournament was a welcome one. She’s tall, hits hard, and is always a delight in post-match interviews.
Even though her opponent Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands was seeded and Rogers wasn’t, this match lopped on its side in a hurry. A bagel first set led to a more competitive second that still went the American’s way. Her serve was tough, and she was painting lines. Her calm demeanor hid some very aggressive play.
More to come as the tournament runs through Sunday March 3rd.