The top tennis stars can often make an absolute fortune from the game (prize money,  sponsorship, endorsements and so on) but one does wonder what it must be like for the lower ranked players who play different tournaments every week knowing that they’re fairly unlikely to go deep into it or even qualify for the main draw. It must require great mental strength and belief in your abilities.

I can’t pretend my original aim was always to go and see the lower ranked women on the qualifying weekend before the Toray Pan Pacific Open (TPPO) properly started. The original plan was to go the Friday session (September 29th) but I was reconsidering that as the cheapest tickets were still 6000 yen and the potential line up didn’t interest me too much. My wife then said she had that day off work so I had pretty much given up on seeing the tournament this year.

However, I then realised the qualification rounds were taking place on the weekend of September 23-24 so I decided that I’d go on one of those days to see some of the lower ranked players aiming to reach the main rounds. Among them all was a Brit I’ve had my eye on for the last few years now.

Once I’d paid 1500 yen admission I entered the outer part of the main arena and was immediately surprised by the number of attractions, food trucks, photo ops and sports shops when there was so little back in 2022. That may be because I went on a couple of weekdays last year, and the weather was absolutely awful too!

It all seemed like it was a fun, friendly family atmosphere and indeed there were almost as many people just hanging around in this area than were watching the tennis on either of the two courts being used! The first match of the day on Center Court included two Japanese girls; Rina Saigo and Sakura Hosogi. I remember seeing the former play 12 months ago and was happy to see her again.

The gulf in class between these lower ranked players and the top women I’m used to seeing on TV in the Grand Slam events was fairly apparent. Hosogi was ranked at 248 whilst Saigo was at 400 and I have to admit I didn’t even know the rankings went below 200. I don’t think it meant too much anyway as Saigo cruised to victory in straight sets winning 6-1, 6-3.

At the conclusion of that I moved on over to the Show Court which I had never been to before. The game between Britain’s Harriet Dart and Georgia’s Oksana Kalashnikova was already under way and the former was romping away with the first set. Dart was my main reason for attending on this particular day and I was getting worried that I might not see much of her match as it takes time to enter the court as you’re only allowed in during the one minute breaks which come every two games.

I eventually got in and caught the end of the first set as Dart bageled her opponent. The second set was a much tighter affair but Dart eventually came through to win 6-4.

The cameras were not even in operation for this match so the only place to see it was in the stands themselves which is a rarity in the modern era for so many sports.

After shaking hands with the umpire Dart came over to the stand in reaction to the crowd calling her over. I didn’t realise it at first but she was actually stood on a chair signing pictures and tennis balls as well as taking selfies. I joined the line but as I got closer she was told by an official that she had to leave the court as the next match needed to start.

However, as I departed moments later I was surprised to see her already outside and being mobbed by fans wanting autographs and photos. I am not sure if all of them really knew who she was but I guess there’s nothing too wrong with it at this level as it gives the fans a memory and helps build the player’s fanbase.

I made my move with more endeavour this time and was soon congratulating her on her victory and wishing her well for the rest of the competition. She saw my Union Jack flag and then said “So you’re the one flying the British flag” or words to that effect. I took a selfie and she asked if I lived here. I said I did and had been waiting quite a few years to finally see a Brit in action at this tournament. Hopefully it won’t be such a long wait till I see one again!

There were three more matches on the slate but I was satisfied with what I’d seen and experienced, and had to leave anyway to get to Yokohama where I watched a different sport.

• Sadly, Dart was knocked out in the next round by the Russian Veronika Kudermetova, who went on to become the TPPO champion after beating Jessica Pegula (USA) in the final 7-5, 6-1.

Click on the links below to read about previous tournaments:

TPPO 2022    TPPO 2015    TPPO 2014    TPPO 2013    TPPO 2012    TPPO 2010