Stanford in danger of moving, ending 21-year history

The Stanford Classic, a Premier-level event and mainstay of the WTA Tour, will need to move in 2018 due to a change in university policy, per an IMG statement.

The reaction has been negative:

Given the tournament's storied history, the disappointment is expected.

Eight of its first 10 editions since moving to Stanford from Oakland in 1997 were won by players who are now in the Hall of Fame: Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport (1998, 1999 and 2004) and Kim Clijsters (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006).

The other two years (2000 and 2004) were won by Venus Williams, who would be a Hall of Famer if she weren't still playing at 37.

The 2009 and 2010 seasons saw champions Marion Bartoli and Victoria Azarenka, who'd both go on  to win Grand Slams.

Serena Williams won the title three times, in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

The 2015 edition belonged to Angelique Kerber, who a year later became the world No. 1.

This past August, Madison Keys won what was perhaps the event's last time being held on the Stanford campus.

She was coached to victory by three-time champion Davenport.