The Baseline Top 10: Experiencing Charleston

This year, I was fortunate to be “part of the action” at the Volvo Car Open, covering the event for Baseline and TENNIS.com.

Great tennis in an amazing city, plus having my family along, made it a week to remember.

Here’s a look back at some of the matches I caught, and “Low Country” flavor I was able to sample, on-court and off.

1. Sara Errani vs. Eugenie Bouchard

Despite the fact that they’re far removed from their glory days, any time you get to see two Grand Slam finalists go against each other, it’s worth checking out. Errani was able to dismantle Bouchard in straight sets in an entertaining match.

2. Every Seat’s a Good One

The Volvo Car Stadium is a near-perfect place for watching marquee matches. The Althea Gibson Club Court has a deck with tables for a stylish touch, and the other side courts and practice courts are ideal for catching the pros up-close.

3. Lowcountry Bistro

Ask anyone about the regional dining specialty, and odds are they’ll tell you it’s shrimp and grits. At Lowcountry Bistro, plump shrimp, creamy grits, Tasso ham, tomatoes and gravy come together for a meal sure to please the palate.

4. Don’t Forget the Barbecue

Of course, shrimp and grits aren’t the only thing cooking. Barbecue also takes on a starring role as a staple cuisine. Poogan’s Smokehouse goes whole hog, and you can get meat-plate combos. If you and your dining companions are feeling adventurous, there’s a dish called “The Meat Sweats,” which has pork belly, ribs, pulled pork and more. It’s definitely made for sharing.

5. Naomi Osaka vs. Laura Siegemund

Shortly after her biggest career win in 2017, Siegemund suffered a knee injury that shut down her season halfway into the year. She put up a battle against the 10th-seeded Osaka, who continues to impress with her game. Both players put on a shot-making display with blazing groundstrokes and deft drop shots. Osaka won this tricky test, but came up short against Siegemund’s German compatriot Julia Goerges in the next round.

6. Petra Kvitova vs. Kristyna Pliskova

In what was the first major upset of the tournament, Kristyna Pliskova eliminated number-two seed Petra Kvitova from the tournament in the second round. Kvitova, who hadn’t lost to a fellow Czech in six years, breezed through the first set, then dropped the next two.

7. Net Generation Courts

The USTA’s efforts to introduce children to the game is a full-on initiative, and the Net Generation courts were packed with kids—like my daughter—eager to get in a hit in a fun environment. Plus, the young ones get to walk away with plenty of swag, like bracelets and water bottles.

8. Caroline Garcia vs. Varvara Lepchenko

Lepchenko had a solid first-round win over former Charleston champ Andrea Petkovic. However, she was unable to mount a challenge against the top seed, who had everything clicking in her first clay-court match of the year. Garcia was unable to maintain that form in her next match as she lost to countrywoman Alize Cornet.

9. Biking Through Charleston

If you don’t want to be in the car driving around Charleston or you’re not up for a horse-drawn carriage tour, there’s plenty of bike shots renting two-wheelers for you to tool around the town. You can’t ride on the sidewalks, and bike lanes are few and far between. You’re left taking it to the streets, but the motorists are more than accommodating and patient.

10. Daria Kasatkina vs. Irina-Camelia Begu

Kasatkina was pushed to the limit in her opening match at the tournament. However, the defending champ made sure that wasn’t going to happen again in the third round. The young Russian breezed through her match against Begu in a performance that adds to her one-to-watch credentials.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias