A stop by the Fan Zone photo area.

Game, set, unmatched. This year, I had the time of my life attending the Dallas Open, an ATP-level (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament at The Star in Frisco. 

After previously being an ATP 250 event, the Dallas Open was upgraded to an ATP 500 event. This means participating players had the opportunity to earn double the amount of points if they won the title, and these points go towards a player’s overall ATP ranking. Those watching had the chance to see higher-ranked players take the court because of this. Also, the venue changed this year to accommodate more fans, shifting from SMU to The Star. At the Star, they had a Fan Zone open which included various places to take photos and purchase beverages. Merchandise was also available for purchase, and I picked up a cute ringer t-shirt to capture the memory of the event. 

The appealing characteristics did not disappoint when I arrived. My family and I are avid tennis fans, so once we heard that the Dallas Open was moving closer to us, we were eager to buy tickets. We usually watch tennis matches online, so I was looking forward to experiencing the electric atmosphere and watching the popular players compete live. My parents have watched professional tennis matches live before, however it was my first time. I went to the Monday and Tuesday night matches and got to see prominent international players like Norwegian Casper Ruud, as well as Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. I loved cheering on the American players as they competed on home soil. 

On Tuesday night, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders had a special performance for the audience and performed on the court. Also, a student from the Centennial High School choir sang the national anthem. Having the Dallas Open here is a great way for people to gain more exposure to the tennis world and increase their fascination with the sport. 

All in all, experiencing this event with my parents and seeing some captivating tennis matches was extremely enjoyable. I never would have imagined that I could have this opportunity to watch some of my favorite players compete live, and it was surreal to be seated so close to the players. Tennis can feel like an isolating sport, but I felt a sense of unity as I was there watching in the stands. I am looking forward to attending more tennis events in the future. See you next year, Dallas Open!