While the mercury topped 102 degrees on Center Court at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, the DC tennis world was heating up even more. This weekend, all eyes are on the DC area as the WTA CitiOpen wraps up in College Park and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic kicks off in upper Northwest. CitiOpen hosts quarterfinal matches today, semis tomorrow and the Sunday finals. Legg Mason Tennis Classic begins with qualifying action on Saturday, which is also Kid’s Day.
In College Park, today’s first quarter went to Shahar Peer, 6-1, 6-2 over Italy’s Alberta Brianti in a quick one. She will now face the winner of the Tamira Paszek/Stephanie Dubois match in a semifinal tomorrow.
Just concluded at CitiOpen Center Court at this moment is Irina Falconi’s big victory over Virginie Razzano, 6-4, 6-2. She took a fall in the 2nd set, but shook it off, like the mighty mite that she has proven herself to be. Later action includes Paszek/Dubois and the nightcap will be Petrova/Jovanovski, where the winner will face Falconi.
Today’s Legg Mason draw ceremony was a lavish affair with a catered lunch for DC schoolkids treated by the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation. DC Mayor Vince Gray, and former Washington Senators announcer Charlie Brotman, the real Dean of the District, assisted with the picks. Victor Troicki and Radek Stepanek dined, drew and dashed off to practice. Troicki, who is the spitting image of Emmy winner Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), was in a hustle to practice with Manchester United superstars Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Bidic. He was joined by Fernando Gonzalez and James Blake in the hit. The big news at the draw was the announcement that Arlington’s own Dennis Kudla and Ragin’ Cajun Ryan Harrison were granted the two remaining wild cards at Legg Mason, meaning that they will not have sweat it out tomorrow as they were scheduled to play as qualifiers.
Tennis Atlantic 
Return Serve?