Seattle Tennis Club readies for 129th Washington State Open

There are worse problems to have than being too popular. In the case of the Washington State Open, the Seattle Tennis Club has added another day to the summer competition, giving players more time to relax.

The Seattle Tennis Club has hosted the WSO since its formation in 1890, and last year it drew in 588 players. As the name implies, it’s open to any United States Tennis Association member.

“It’s more of a scheduling puzzle,” said Seattle Tennis Club director of tennis Andrew Minnelli. “I think what we try to do is be friendly to the players and their experience.”

With its numbers over the past few years, players at the Washington State Open would sometimes still be playing at 11 p.m.

“We really want them to play a couple of matches and then relax at the club,” Minnelli said.

Registration opened in early May, and includes singles, doubles and mixed options. The tournament will run July 29 to Aug. 4 at the Seattle Tennis Club, 922 McGilvra Boulevard E.

There will again be around $32,000 in prize money, and the Washington State Open equalized the payout between men and women competitors last year.

This year there will be an opening-night party for club members, players and sponsors. STC is working to gain more local sponsors this year, and hopes to finalize that list by June 10, said communications manager Christina Lehman.

The Washington State Open is the one time of year that the private tennis club in Madison Park is open to the public, which comes out to cheer on athletes and catch views of the Blue Angels buzzing by during Seafair.

There is also a new logo, upgraded website and more focus on social media for this year, Lehman said, adding this helps get everything situated for next year’s 130th anniversary.

“We just really want it to be a celebration of the sport,” she said.

Before players hit the 10 outdoor and six indoor hard courts, they will be resurfaced to U.S. Open standards, Minnelli said.

“This club is going to look phenomenal for the tournament, because it is going to have brand-new courts basically.”

The WSO was met with two days of rain last year. STC partners with the University of Washington to use its Nordstrom Tennis Center when that happens.

Northwest Sports Rehab physical therapist and Madison Park Times columnist Dr. Dan Michael will again be at the WSO to support athletes. Minnelli said Michael played a critical role in helping the winner of the men’s division last year.

“Without Dr. Dan, he wouldn’t have won,” he said.

People can sign up for the Washington State Open at washingtonstateopen.com/compete.