Photo credit: twitter.com

By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State alumna Sybille Gauvain, the No. 1 singles player on the Spartans’ women’s tennis team the last four seasons, will be representing her alma mater in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic’s singles qualifying round tournament at the Spartan Tennis Complex on SJSU’s South Campus.

Gauvain is 1 of 16 players playing Saturday, July 28, and possibly, Sunday, July 29, for 1 of 4 berths in the singles’ main draw.

“It’s amazing,” Gauvain recently expressed upon learning of the opportunity to compete in a tournament that features 11 of the top-50 ranked players in the world headlined by No. 28 — Serena Williams, No. 14 — Venus Williams, and defending tournament champion No. 12 — Madison Keys. The qualifying tournament has Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranked players from 11 countries.

The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic runs July 30 through August 5 and is the first stop in a 5-tournament tour leading up to the U.S. Open in New York in September.

Gauvain, a business administration major from France, was a model student-athlete. She graduated cum laude, was a key member in San Jose State’s Mountain West conference championship season in 2017, and finished her college career tied for third on the Spartans’ list for combined singles and doubles tennis victories with 132 in 3.5 seasons.

An Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranked singles player and 7-time All-Mountain West singles and doubles honoree during her career, Gauvain turned pro after graduation and will be playing in her third tournament as a pro.

“This is a great opportunity for Sybille (Gauvain) to be playing in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic singles qualification tournament. She was a stand-out player on our women’s tennis team and worked hard on the court to get to where she is,” said San Jose State women’s tennis head coach Chad Skorupka.

“Playing in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is a high point in her early (professional) playing career and also highlights the great new facilities we have on the South Campus. For Sybille (Gauvain) to be playing in front of the San Jose State family will be amazing.”

Gauvain’s opponent and time of match on Saturday, July 28 will be announced on Friday, July 27. The eight winners on July 28 must win again the next day for a spot in the singles main draw that begins, Monday, July 30.

“I’m getting ready for this. I’m practicing harder. I’m thinking about it when I’m practicing,” said Gauvain. “It’s going to be like a ‘Grand Slam’ tournament with all the players who are going to be here.”

Notes: There will free parking in San Jose State’s Park & Ride Lot located at the corner of 7th and Humboldt Streets with less than a 0.25 mile walk to the Spartan Tennis Complex and free admission to watch the July 28 and July 29 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic qualifying round singles matches.

The main tournament with a 32-player singles field and 16 doubles teams begins Monday, July 30, and concludes Sunday, August 5. The superb field includes Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and defending tournament champion Madison Keys.

Tickets for the singles and doubles matches of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tournament beginning July 30 are available now at http://www.mubadalasvc.com/.