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Getting it Right in Texas ...
   ... with a little Southern Hospitality

The Texas Open takes place April 4-9 2005 in Dallas   [draw]

Last year I played the Texas Open in Houston, which marked the first time that I competed in this event, and more notably, the first time that I had been to the American South.

Texas Open Photo, Debra Tessier © 2005

As I arrived at the Houston airport, like any new city or country I visit, I consciously tried to push aside any preconceived notions that I might have had of the Lone Star State in order to develop my own fresh, unadulterated impressions of this place. Funny though, how stereotypes can sometimes be truer than we’d like to admit. Through TV and media, the dominant impressions I had formed of Texans coming into this trip were: over-the-top personalities; generous use of the words “y’all” “darling” “sugar”, etc.; overwhelming sense of pride at being from Texas; fried foods galore; and thanks to President Bush, a tendency towards confusing, and sometimes spurious argumentation. Within 30 minutes of touching down, every one of these conceptions had been upheld.

I was greeted at the airport by a woman who was undoubtedly the most energetic and enthusiastic person I had ever met in my life (later, to my surprise, I would find every successive Texan I met there to be more upbeat than the last). One of the first things this kind woman said to me as we started our way to the hotel was “oh darling, we are just so excited to have y’all here! You know us Texans are just THE NICEST people you’ll ever meet! Hey sugar can you buckle up?” I had to shake my head; within minutes, two of the four stereotypes I was trying to disregard had already been confirmed. I couldn’t give in to my temptation to judge though.

So I just had to presume for now that modesty was not one of the Lone Star State’s most honored features, and decided to follow up on this ‘niceness’ idea of hers. I asked why Texas had garnered such a reputation for kindness, and in turn received a profusion of answers that ranged from an abundance of resources to the Battle of the Alamo….??? Although we didn’t run into any fried foods on the way from the airport to the hotel, I should say that I was given a large fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie upon checking in (which despite all the hotels I’ve stayed at, was the first time I received a baked treat from a receptionist).

Now, to be fair, you should keep in mind that that was indeed only my first 30 minutes in Houston, and you really can’t paint a proper picture on those bases. Also, as a general rule, my accounts of the way things transpire tend to be at best, a skewed and vague interpretation of what really happened! The truth is that the event ran extremely well in Houston last year, as has been the case every year since its inception in 2000 (starting with the Dallas Open and then the Texas Open from 2002 to present). This high class Gold event is unique in that it alternates settings each year, from Houston to Dallas, with organizers from both cities putting their heads together to come up with a spectacular event every time.

Texas Open Photo, Debra Tessier © 2005

This year in Dallas, the main round matches will largely be played on an all-glass court in the middle of the Plaza of Americas shopping mall, featuring all of the top 20 players in the world. This highlight not only exemplifies the superior quality of the tournament, but also helps to explain why- by all accounts from the players themselves- the Texas Open consistently ranks as one of the most well-liked tournaments on the tour. So what is it about this event that has made it a favorite for WISPA members? Well, to all those organizers who have put on events in the past or aspire to hold a tournament in the future, here are 4 big ways to get into our hearts. The Texans have caught on, and hopefully others will too.

1) Shopping. Don’t ask me what it is about female squash players and shopping, but the two just seem to go hand-in-hand. It is not necessarily that we go out on huge spending sprees a lot (after all, we have no money to begin with) but it’s more like the act and the right to shop that we hold so sacrosanct. Putting up a court in the middle of a mall, as will be the case in Dallas this year- and thereby combining the two greatest passions of a WISPA player- will undoubtedly fulfill many childhood fantasies over the course of this week. Genius.

2) Good Organization. Put simply, the less we have to think off the court, the better. Stress levels tend to rise for WISPA players on 3 main fronts: if practice times are not ample or clearly specified (for booking); if there are complications upon checking in to the hotel (ie. jumbled rooming arrangements, or non-existent bookings under “squash”); and if transportation is scarce (which could strand players at a club for hours at a time). At every year’s Open, the organization has been impeccable on all these accounts. Furthermore, the event-runners continually go one step further to offer airport pick-ups, free dinners, great entry packages (with impressive programs), and an infamous post-finals party (which includes the same live band each year- Nite Beat). In both Houston and Dallas, the most appreciated feature of this event is having the hotel in close proximity (walking distance) to the courts, and again, shopping areas. By giving us that much more flexibility in our daily plans is a huge perk which often gets overlooked. Brilliant.

3) Entertainment. Given the competitive nature of our work, WISPA players relish the few opportunities we get to hang out and unwind in a social setting that does not revolve around squash (and as my folks would say, I revolve around any event that remotely resembles a paid vacation- but I digress!) In years past, the girls have been treated to a myriad of amazing ‘Texas treats’ that have included trips to the Rodeo, line dancing at the world’s largest honky tonk, and karaoke (mainly from the renowned voice of Carol Owens). This year, in addition to the mandatory cowboy acculturation, tickets to the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks have been offered to the players- another great perk. Sweet.

4) Friendly, Social Atmosphere. Seeing as we spend so much time away from home and have to interact with strangers in new places on a regular basis, a little warmth and friendliness goes a long way. And in Texas, everybody is inherently programmed to dispense ridiculous amounts of cheer, which in turn makes you feel extremely welcome there. Well actually, first- coming from other socially inept parts of the world- you tend to get a huge shock to the system, feeling slightly unnerved by all the wide smiles and polite name-calling going on around you (apparently I qualify as a “ma’am” in Texas!). This “twilight zone” stage is quickly followed by a phase of intense paranoia which stems from the belief that every Texan is either trying to “Punk” you or mug you. But, soon enough, you come to terms with the fact that places actually do exist where people are really that nice (and don’t want anything from you), and it is at this point that you can truly succumb to the warm and fuzzy feeling of kindness that only those in the Lone Star State know how to dispense. Beautiful.

The organizers of the Texas Open put on a premier event every year with seeming ease and understanding. I don’t know what it is that gives these guys such an intuitive feel for staging this type of event, but I suspect that it has a lot to do with an inherent trait of Southern hospitality that perhaps, though inexplicable, is the secret ingredient that makes this event so special and unique, and that lures the best players in the world back year after year.

Thank you.

Runa Reta is a WISPA touring pro based in Ottawa, Canada. She currently holds a WISPA ranking of 31 and plays Madeline Perry of Ireland in the first round of this year's Texas Open.

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