“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 it, ”says the 35-year-old woman.

Unsurprisingly, the director was happy and satisfied during her meeting with The Press, a few hours before the final between Jessica Pegula and Liudmila Samsonova. She was proud.

PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS

The director of the National Bank Open, Valérie Tétreault

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 is also a healthy little war with Toronto, so to beat Toronto, which has had a great year on the men’s side but which will end up at around 175,000 versus our 215,000, I take it well! »

“What would Eugene do?” »

It hasn’t 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 told me yesterday: ‘Val, after that, it’s going to be a piece of cake [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 is Eugene [Lapierre] would do ? »

“It was the biggest part of my decision-making process, and I think it will stay with me for many years,” she smiles. […] He was on the site [samedi], I was glad he was here. 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 bit. »

Beyond all that, Tétreault “had a lot of fun” at the head of the National Bank Open, her first of many as director. “I think we had a good level on the pitch, great matches, long matches, tight matches. 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 from further afield, aren’t sure if they want to come or not. That’s why the attendance record is my greatest happiness. It confirms that people were there. »

good comments

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 second player in the world, eliminated in the third round, thanked the Montrealers for “all the support”, saying that the welcome was “one of the warmest she has ever had on a tennis court”.

“It warmed my heart, drops Tétreault with a smile. You can’t really see it anywhere else. Above all [qu’elle l’a fait] 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 musical hitches

A few times during the week, the music started playing during rallies on the court. 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 began to play in full exchange. Pegula was about to hit the ball when the referee called for Świątek to return his serve. If Pegula took him 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 skip 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. »

The journey of the Canadians

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 the 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.