The 2007 Southeastern Open:  Put this tournament on your list for next year 6/18/07 by:  Sara James

The Annual "Watermelon" Tournament sees attendance increase 25% over last year;
Organizers Keep the Dream Alive in Memory of Dr. John Watson

Co-Tournament Directors Wayne Motley (left) and   Guy Walton.  Guy and Wayne moved the tournament to Byrd Park this year since the Battery Park Courts are still in disrepair from flooding earlier in the year.

Doc Watson would have been proud.  When it was clear the courts at Battery Park would not be available for the annual Southeastern Tennis Open, Guy Walton and Wayne Motley kept a positive attitude and kept the dream alive.

The Southeastern Open, one of the longest running tournaments in the country, has been part of Richmond's history for nearly 50 years.  Dr. John Watson, who was the tournament director for 46 years until his death last year at the age of 85, encouraged players to exemplify good sportsmanship and conduct on the court.  In fact, it was not uncommon for Doc to pull players --even grown men-- from the court for throwing a racquet or having a temper tantrum during his tournaments.  

It was Watson who helped Arthur Ashe develop into a player and who was his practice partner before he left Richmond to train elsewhere.  And it was Watson who was among the first four African Americans to play in the Davenport City Tennis Championship when it moved to Byrd Park in 1967.  He also served as the longtime president of the Richmond Racquet Club and first vice president of the American Tennis Association, the oldest African American sports organization in the United States. 

In honor of all that he contributed to tennis and the community, Dr. John Andrew Watson, Jr was inducted into the Mid Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.

And so, when the Battery Park courts were flooded and closed to the public, it could have sunk the spirit of organizers who longed to see the "Doc's" old bleachers flooded with hopeful participants.  Instead, the group packed up and moved to Byrd Park, set up their barbeque grills and brought out the watermelon at a different venue.  

"It may be a different place, but it's still the same.  I'm determined that we're keeping this tournament alive," said Sallie Elam, who drove from Maryland to help officiate.

Sallie Elam drove from Maryland to officiate at the tournament.  She was the Richmond Junior City Champion at age 17.   She played #1 singles at Armstrong High School  for four years.

Tournament Director Guy Walton is in his fifth year of coaching tennis at Virginia Union University  in Richmond.  VA Union, a Division II school, is where Dr. Watson coached for 43 years.  From 1959 to 1987, his teams never had a losing season. 

Wayne Motley, who is Co-Director  of the Southeastern Open with Walton, grew up in Richmond and played tennis at Thomas Jefferson High School.  "Wayne really deserves most of the credit for the tournament's success," said Walton. "He worked with Dr. Watson on the tournament longer than I [did]." 

The tournament was blessed with good weather this year.  Typically, the weather is "chilly, then rainy, then scorching hot," said Sallie.  

 

The cookout - Hamburgers, HotDogs, Chips, Drinks and watermelon -- was  served at no charge, and with a smile,  to players and guests

It certainly started off chilly on Friday, and dark clouds threatened to fulfill the second part of Sallie's prediction.   However, the rain never came, and players were treated to a great weekend of weather.  And, Sallie was 2/3 right.  Chilly Friday temps climbed to the mid 90s by Sunday. Many players greeted old friends who came to watch good tennis and to take advantage of the free picnic provided to players and guests.

While participation in the tournament was up 25% from last year, it still is interesting that a tournament run this well, with a fairly low priced entry fee, would have to cut out divisions due to lack of entries. This year, only two teams played in Men's 40 and Mens 60 Doubles and only two women signed up for Women's Open Singles. Hopefully next year this tournament will get the attention and participation that it so well deserves. Doc Watson's legacy -- his belief that tennis was a sport for a lifetime, and that through the game the lives of many young people could be saved from a path of destruction -- should live on. The tournament historically draws players from the City, but players came from the suburbs and as far as New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina Below, dark clouds threatened to rain out early rounds on Friday, but it stayed dry.  Players played through the darkness.