“As Tournament Director, I am proud. As a former player, I think I’m even more proud,” drops Valérie Tétreault.
For its 2023 edition, the National Bank Open wanted to send a strong message about the popularity of women’s tennis. An attendance record later, it’s mission accomplished, according to the tournament director.
Until this year, the attendance record for the women’s section was 184,000. It dates back to 2014. Early Sunday afternoon, this record had risen to 198,000. After the final, it rose to nearly 219,000. Figures that do not lie about Quebecers’ interest in tennis, whether women’s or men’s.
“There is something special in Montreal, but obviously we want to continue to promote women’s tennis so that it can continue to grow in popularity. Here, people do not make the distinction. That, I believe and I see,” said the 35-year-old woman.
Unsurprisingly, the director was happy and satisfied during her meeting with La Presse, a few hours before the final between Jessica Pegula and Liudmila Samsonova. She was proud.
Proud as the new director.
Proud as a former professional player.
“When you look at the gap between the last record and the projection we have for attendance, it’s remarkable. There’s a healthy little war going on with Toronto as well, so to beat Toronto, who have a great year on the men’s side but are going to end up around 175,000 versus our 215,000, I’m taking it! »
It has not been an easy week for Valérie Tétreault. “A big baptism”, she sums up herself. The weather forecast was his biggest challenge. Often, matches had to be postponed. Several things were then to be taken into consideration between the situation of the players, that of the amateurs and that of the various television networks.
“This is where I felt like I had to learn at high speed.
“Even the WTA supervisor was telling me yesterday, ‘Val, after this, it’s going to be a piece of cake.’ I’m not sure that’s necessarily it, because I feel like every year something happens that leads us to make certain decisions. »
It hasn’t always been easy, like Saturday night, when the organization was forced to postpone the second semi-final game to the next day, which also postponed the final.
What was Tétreault thinking when faced with a question? “What would Eugene [Lapierre] do? »
“It was the biggest part of my decision-making process, and I think it will stick with me for many years,” she smiles. […] He was on the site [Saturday], I was happy that he was there. We invited him to one of our meetings while we were discussing the different scenarios, just to get his pulse and confirm our plan a little. »
Beyond all that, Tétreault “had a lot of fun” leading the National Bank Open, her first of many as manager. “I think we had a good level on the pitch, good games, long games, tight games. I feel like people were all smiles. »
Regarding the many empty seats despite the tickets sold, Tétreault largely blames the too often uncertain weather forecasts.
“People, especially those who come from a bit further away, are not sure if they want to come or not. This is why the attendance record is my greatest happiness. It confirms that people were there. »
On social networks, players expressed their gratitude to Montreal after their elimination. Valérie Tétreault mentions to us, among other things, the message published by Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka on her Instagram page. The world No. 2 player, eliminated in the third round, thanked Montrealers for “all the support,” saying the welcome was “one of the warmest she’s ever had on a tennis court.”
“It warmed my heart, drops Tétreault with a smile. You can’t really see it anywhere else. Especially [that she did it] after a defeat, and not a defeat in the final. I think that in that time, it means even more. »
At the time of our interview, the tournament is not over. Tétreault must leave us; Prime Minister François Legault is due to arrive in the next few minutes. Then she will have to prepare for the final.
“I’m going to watch it with Eugene,” she told us. It’s gonna be a good time. »
A few times during the week, the music started playing during on-court rallies. It happened, among other things, on Saturday afternoon, during the semi-final between Iga Świątek and Jessica Pegula. In the tiebreaker, Pegula trailed 4-2 when the song Cotton Eye Joe started playing in the middle of the rally. Pegula was about to hit the ball when the referee called for Świątek to return to serve. If Pegula took it laughing after his victory, the images of the sequence have been viral on social networks.
“Today, we are able to look at that moment a little more with a smile because Jessica Pegula ended up winning the match, said Tétreault. I really wouldn’t have wanted her to slip away from the match and kind of have that identified as the cause. »
“But hey, to err is human,” she continues. Of course, we immediately went to address it with the people in management. We are watched all over the world, and this is not the image we want to give to our tournament. »
Three Canadians were in the main draw this week. Two of them, Rebecca Marino and Bianca Andreescu, saw their journey come to an end in the first round. As for Leylah Annie Fernandez, she lost in the third round against American Danielle Collins.
“For Leylah, I think it was a good run that can revive her in the coming weeks,” says Valérie Tétreault. For Bianca, of course we would have liked more. Of course she does too. Maybe she put too much pressure on herself when she arrived. [Camila] Giorgi, it was not an easy order. »
“I continue to dream of the moment when we will be able to crown, here in Montreal, a Canadian or a Canadian woman,” adds the director.
