SAP Open Qualifying: Open to the public?

[JohnP]

Back in 1995, as a teenager, a bunch of us kids at our local club got the chance to ballboy for the qualifying draw at the SAP (Then San Jose) Open. In addition, we were given a pass to the early round matches of the main draw. The highlight for me, however, was being able to hang out and enjoy watching qualifying matches in such an intimate setting. The qualifying was (and still is) held at the Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos, and I cannot for the life of me remember if the qualifying was open to the public or if I was only allowed to be in there because I was working for the tournament. My best memory is that it was free and open to the public, and I don't remember there being very many people there. At any rate, that was 12 years ago and things may have changed anyway.

Does anybody here know the scoop? I'd love to hop over there and check out some of those matches again if it is open to the public (I wouldn't mind paying an admission fee either).

John

 

[goober]

It's not qualifying it is prequalifying. It's an open tournament edit:
Entry to this tournament is open to all USTA members, however, acceptance to the events is by Tournament Director selection only.


Here is this years results.

http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=48350

 

[CAM178]

Typical: the guy that cruised through pre-qualifying lost in the 2nd rd of qualies. Just goes to show how big of a gap there is.

 

[JohnP]

It's not qualifying it is prequalifying. It's an open tournament edit:
Entry to this tournament is open to all USTA members, however, acceptance to the events is by Tournament Director selection only.


Here is this years results.

http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=48350

I'm not talking about pre-qualifying, i'm talking about qualifying. I apologize for being a bit ambiguous when I said "open to the public". I was talking from a spectator standpoint, not a playing/entry standpoint.

 

[JohnP]

Typical: the guy that cruised through pre-qualifying lost in the 2nd rd of qualies. Just goes to show how big of a gap there is.

Yeah, Brad Weston has been dominating Men's Opens in NorCal for the last year or so. He hasn't been off the tour long, and was ranked in the top 500 or 600 only a few years ago. The main qualifying draw for SJ is exceptionally tough though, as the main draw is so small, the top seeds in qualifying are normally in the top 200 or better, and there are always several guys in the top 400 or so.

 

[goober]

I'm not talking about pre-qualifying, i'm talking about qualifying. I apologize for being a bit ambiguous when I said "open to the public". I was talking from a spectator standpoint, not a playing/entry standpoint.

Well I never been to any pro tourney from futures to slams where the qualifying wasn't free and open to the public. So I would say Yes

 

[JohnP]

Well I never been to any pro tourney from futures to slams where the qualifying wasn't free and open to the public. So I would say Yes

Cool, that was my assumption but I wasn't sure. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Raiden.Kaminari]

Cool, that was my assumption but I wasn't sure. Thanks for the replies.

I don't know if you realize that even when the main singles event is being held for the SAP Open, you can go watch the player warm-up / practice and most of the pro doubles matches at Courtside for free. SAP Open is one of the funnest tournaments I go up to San Jose to see.

I've been told that it is even better is being to "hang out" with them. They will even give you player box tickets if they like you.

 

[JohnP]

I don't know if you realize that even when the main singles event is being held for the SAP Open, you can go watch the player warm-up / practice and most of the pro doubles matches at Courtside for free. SAP Open is one of the funnest tournaments I go up to San Jose to see.

I've been told that it is even better is being to "hang out" with them. They will even give you player box tickets if they like you.

I did not realize that any of the main draw doubles were played at courtside. That is great, I am a big fan of doubles. Thanks for the info.