Every time Valérie Tétreault enters her office, she sees the score “6-1 and 6-0” written on a sheet of paper on the wall. It’s the score of last year’s ultimate match, at her first tournament as director of the National Bank Montreal Open.
• Read also: National Bank Open: diapers, bottles, daycare and a tournament to lead for Valérie Tétreault
• Read also: Omnium Banque Nationale: A shower of praise for Louis Borfiga
“I can’t wait to be able to stick it over the score of this summer’s final, hoping that it will be closer, Tétreault implores in an interview with Journal. It can’t get any worse!
Jessica Pegula’s one-sided triumph over Liudmila Samsonova, who had played in the semi-final two hours earlier, left tennis fans wanting more. The same feeling for Tétreault, still haunted by this damp squib ending.
“I thought it was a shame, we had so many great matches during the week. Disappointed, I had a hard time celebrating the end of the tournament,” she admits.
With rain playing spoilsport last year, Tétreault felt helpless. She’s faced criticism, but she’s aware that “it’s hard for people, and that’s normal, to understand all the factors that have to be considered,” such as circuit rules, TV and other tournament schedules.
“Our hands are a bit tied,” she sighs.
Tétreault is therefore crossing his fingers that the weather will be good this week.
Jessica Pegula lifted the winner’s trophy at the National Bank Open last year in Montreal. Photo Martin Chevalier
A final during the week
Next year, the organization will have more leeway. The Canadian event will be played over 12 days and will go from 56 to 96 players. In qualifying, 32 athletes will try to get one of the 16 spots available in the main draw. This means that, for a rare tournament, there will be only one qualifying round rather than two.
“We will have eight passes [chez les femmes contre quatre cette année à Toronto]”There will potentially be more Canadian women in action,” rejoices Tétreault, hoping to avoid heartbreaking decisions when issuing invitations.
In order to align with the next event in Cincinnati, which will also be extended, the National Bank Open will be moved up a week and will begin on Saturday, August 3 and end on Monday, August 12.
“It will therefore be a test this summer by also playing the final during the week, on Monday August 12 in the evening. [en raison des Jeux olympiques]”, recalls the Montreal director.
Ben Pelosse / GoM
A regret
With a 12-day competition, athletes will be able to recover better and have more free time. Already, the Cirque du Soleil show and the Osheaga music festival are still popular. For his part, Casper Ruud enjoys playing golf, and Roger Federer has already visited the Biodome with his children.
“Different restaurants agree to keep one or two tables for us that we offer to the players’ teams. It’s fun because it’s a way to bring them to less touristy areas,” Tétreault proudly mentions.
When she was playing, the tournament director preferred to stay in her bubble, at the hotel or on the competition site. She didn’t see anything of the cities where she played.
“That’s one thing I regret. I think I started traveling after my career and honestly, I think I missed out on some great opportunities. I think you have to find a balance. Mentally, it can be positive.”
New medical center
In order to accommodate the needs of 96 players, a mezzanine was built at IGA Stadium. On the first floor, a brand new medical center for athletes: spaces for physiotherapists, massage therapists, recovery and rest. Above, there is the new media center.
Among Tétreault’s projects, besides a roof over the central court that we are not about to see, there is the addition of training courts to the eight already existing ones, closer to the hotels where the players stay downtown.
“It could be an agreement with a private club or even in a Montreal park where we decide to redo the fields. No matter where it will be, it will need a surface identical to the one we have at the IGA stadium,” confirms Tétreault, who is also considering the possibility of offering a daycare for the children of athletes and employees.
