Redding, CA
After our trip to Alabama, we were anxious about our tournament schedule since there were no remaining 15K events in the US. Given our financial situation, we couldn't afford another trip abroad like earlier in the year, and the only tournaments left were 35K and higher. Our best chance to compete was to secure a wildcard, so we reached out to several tournament directors.
To our delight, the director of the 35K in Redding, California, offered us a wildcard into the main draw of doubles! He believed we were ideal candidates and was excited to see us compete.
With about a week and a half to plan, we crafted a budget-friendly itinerary: flying to San Francisco (with one stop) and then driving 3.5 hours to Redding. Although it was a bit of a journey, it saved us significant costs, which is vital for us right now.
We were also incredibly fortunate to learn that this tournament provides free housing for players.This generous support greatly alleviates our financial burden and makes this trip not only possible but also a fantastic opportunity to grow and gain new experience.
Our hosts were incredible—so generous in offering us their guesthouse by the pool and cooking us amazing dinners every night. We truly felt spoiled! They made us feel like part of their family, which made the tournament experience far more enjoyable and much less stressful.
Before the tournament began, we had some free time, which we took full advantage of by exploring the area. Redding is surrounded by stunning nature, so we didn’t take that for granted.We had the chance to visit Lassen National Park, the Redwoods, and several other unique spots.
Finally, it was game time. We drew the third seed, a team ranked 300th in the world, with one of the players having just competed at the US Open a few months earlier. We knew we were facing the toughest team we had ever encountered on paper, but we were excited for the challenge and the new experience ahead. Our mindset was simple—have fun and enjoy the game. We definitely succeeded in that, and to our amazement, we won 6-3, 7-6(6). It was by far the biggest win of our careers, and we still couldn’t believe we had beaten such a highly experienced team. Our hard work had paid off, and every sacrifice and moment of dedication was worth it.
Our high didn’t last long, as we quickly shifted our focus to the quarterfinals, where we were set to face a Canadian duo with players ranked 284 and 235 in the world. Another tough challenge—something we’ve become accustomed to—but unfortunately, we couldn't come out on top. Their playing style posed a real challenge to our game, and we struggled to execute consistently, which was crucial for securing a win. The final score was 5-7, 2-6, but we walked away with plenty of valuable lessons from the match.
Back at our host family's home after the tournament, we had a moment to reflect. We realized that by winning our first-round match and making it to the quarterfinals, we had earned 9 WTA points—the most we’d ever accumulated in a single tournament. Our spirits were sky-high, and we were beyond excited to see our rankings climb to new heights.
Fueled by this momentum, our attention turned to the next 35k tournament in Bakersfield, California that was to be played the following week. While it was a risk to drive all the way out there without a guaranteed spot in the draw, we’ve always believed in taking chances, and we were ready to go for it once again.
Price Breakdown (Total for Redding, CA and Bakersfield, CA):
Flight: 2 x $150
Bags: 4 x $35
Car: $150
Gas: $132
Groceries: $150
Tournament Entry: 4 x $20
Total Cost: $952
Total Earnings: $328
