By Jamauri Bowles
The grass-court season has passed. Wimbledon was a fun ride! Now, the summer swing of the North American hard-court season is underway. As someone living in America, this is my favorite part of the tennis season. The daily start and finish times are the most convenient for my sleep schedule.
This year’s summer swing looks different in one aspect than it did in years prior: there is no Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. There is no WTA event happening in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This is the first time the WTA Tour will miss a stop at the Bay Area since 1970 (with the exception of 1978 and 2020). Over the last half century, this tournament was held in various places in the region: San Francisco, Oakland, the campus of Stanford University, and most recently, San Jose.
The event was supposed to be held this exact week, but the tournament was officially cancelled weeks ago. It merged with the Citi Open event in Washington, D.C. to form the Mubadala Citi D.C. Open, which will remain in the nation’s capital city.
Before its departure from San Jose, the Silicon Valley Classic arrived in the city in 2018 and was located at San Jose State University’s tennis complex. I remember how intrigued I was when I first heard the news that the event was moving from Stanford (where it took place from 1997 to 2017) to San Jose. I grew up not too far from Stanford, but never had the opportunity to visit and watch professional tennis matches in the summer.
But I did manage to attend the Silicon Valley Classic in 2018 and 2019. I made the decision not to attend in 2021, before returning for last year’s edition. The 2022 Silicon Valley Classic was my first attendance at a public event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a different adventure than my previous trips.
Last year, I went to the Monday and Tuesday daytime sessions. Both days were for the opening round main-draw matches, and the tickets I bought for both sessions were not too pricey (about $30 each). It took me three hours to travel from my house to the tennis complex in San Jose, and three hours to head back home.
Each day when I arrived at the site, the first thing I would do was head over to the practice courts and see which players were out there. I took photos with a couple of players before or after their scheduled practice times, such as Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur and Bianca Andreescu.
At other times, I would sit in the bleachers for portions of different matches, and I noted the differences between watching tennis in person and on television. I observed how different the ball-striking sounds, and how the tennis ball looks when it travels through the air. Being there live is a more dimensional experience.
Also, it was really hot outside! I was thankful to have hats, towels, sunscreen and water.
My personal experiences from last year’s tournament really put into perspective how I view both my home and the sport of tennis. Attending the Silicon Valley Classic after the start of the pandemic made me realize how much I missed traveling, seeing new things, and being around amazing people. It has also fueled my desire to visit larger tennis tournaments one day. The two tournaments I want to visit the most are Indian Wells and the U.S. Open. Right now, it’s too difficult for me financially to go to either tournament, and the absence of professional tennis in the Bay Area makes it tougher for me to watch WTA/ATP-level tennis in person.
I understand that sometimes, business talks. I also understand that it’s easier to travel to the upcoming National Bank Open event in Montreal or Toronto from Washington, D.C., than it is from San Jose. Nevertheless, it’s a crummy feeling to know that the Bay Area is without a WTA event, after the ATP event left the region years before then. It may not be as large or extravagant as cities like New York City or Los Angeles, but I believe the Bay Area is a great and worthy place to continue displaying women’s tennis.
Now, I appreciate the tournament more than I did when it came to San Jose in 2018. As time passes, I also appreciate my home region more than I did when I was younger.
I love watching tennis. I love the Bay Area. I love seeing the presence of tennis in the Bay Area.
Farewell to professional tennis in the Bay Area … at least for now. I sincerely hope a WTA event comes back to the Bay Area in the very near future.
Popcorn Tennis 