WASHINGTON–Six US players advanced to the main draw of the Citi Open in Washington, DC today.
On the men’s side, the youthful Jared Donaldson of Rhode Island qualified for his first tour-level main draw in defeating fellow American Sekou Bangoura. Robby Ginepri bested red-hot Sam Groth to advance, and Rajeev Ram made the main draw with a win over Emilio Gomez.
Of the US men who advanced today, nobody had a harder time doing it than Alex Kuznetsov, who dropped the first set to local DC product Jordi Arconada, before a come-back win in three sets.
Taylor Townsend and Tornado Ali Black made us proud and extended their stays in the Nation’s Capital, as both scored impressive victories in the scorching, humid late afternoon in Rock Creek Park.
On to the flip side and out North American allies: After very impressive performances yesterday, Canadians Stephanie Dubois and Gabriela Dabrowski were both frustrated in losing very close three-setters.
Play begins at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow’s prime-time marquee matches feature rising star and local phenom Francis Tiafoe in his pro debut against Evgeny Donskoy, followed by Madison Keys vs. Kurumi Nara. I don’t think I remember Tennis Channel ever showing a Monday night match in Washington, a testament to the curiosity of viewers to see both of those young American players.
—Stephan Fogleman, Tennis East Coast
CITI OPEN – WASHINGTON DC, USA
USD 1,654,295.00 (ATP)
USD 250,000.00 (WTA)
28 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2014
RESULTS – JULY 27, 2014
Mens
Qualifying Singles – Second Round
Qualifying – R Ginepri (USA) d S Groth (AUS) 64 64
Qualifying – Y Sugita (JPN) d [Alt] A Carter (USA) 60 61
Qualifying – R Ram (USA) d E Gomez (ECU) 64 76(2)
Qualifying – I Marchenko (UKR) d M Copil (ROU) 67(3) 76(4) 64
Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) d [WC] J Arconada (ARG) 36 61 60
Qualifying – J Donaldson (USA) d S Bangoura (USA) 63 61
Mens
Qualifying Doubles – Second Round
Qualifying – [2] J Erlich (ISR) / R Ram (USA) d M Copil (ROU) / S Stakhovsky (UKR) 63 64
Women’s
Qualifying Singles – Second Round
Qualifying – T Townsend (USA) d T Smitkova (CZE) 63 64
Qualifying – O Rogowska (AUS) d G Dabrowski (CAN) 26 76(5) 76(5)
Qualifying – H Kuwata (JPN) d S Dubois (CAN) 46 62 76(3)
Qualifying – [WC] T Black (USA) d E Webley-Smith (GBR) 63 60
ORDER OF PLAY – MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014
STADIUM COURT start 1:45 pm
WTA – [6] S Kuznetsova (RUS) vs P Hercog (SLO)
Not Before 4:00 pm
ATP – [Q] R Ginepri (USA) vs A Falla (COL)
Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP – A Gonzalez (COL) vs B Tomic (AUS)
Not Before 8:00 pm
ATP – [WC] F Tiafoe (USA) vs E Donskoy (RUS)
WTA – K Nara (JPN) vs [7] M Keys (USA)
GRANDSTAND 1 start 2:00 pm
WTA – V King (USA) vs [WC] F Abanda (CAN)
Not Before 4:00 pm
ATP – T Smyczek (USA) vs [Q] A Kuznetsov (USA)
Not Before 5:00 pm
ATP – [Q] Y Sugita (JPN) vs D Young (USA)
WTA – J Goerges (GER) vs [Q] T Townsend (USA)
WTA – [Q] T Black (USA) vs Z Diyas (KAZ)
GRANDSTAND 2 start 4:00 pm
ATP – F Dancevic (CAN) vs B Paire (FRA)
ATP – [Q] R Ram (USA) vs [Q] J Donaldson (USA)
WTA – [3] A Cornet (FRA) vs [WC] S Rogers (USA)
WTA – K Bertens (NED) vs [8] S Cirstea (ROU)
COURT 1 start 4:00 pm
WTA – L Chirico (USA) / S Marand (USA) vs [4] A Rodionova (AUS) / O Rogowska (AUS)
WTA – A Riske (USA) vs [Q] H Kuwata (JPN)
ATP – L Lacko (SVK) vs [WC] F Peliwo (CAN)
COURT 2 start 4:00 pm
ATP – M Jaziri (TUN) vs S Stakhovsky (UKR)
ATP – M Matosevic (AUS) vs [Q] I Marchenko (UKR)
Tennis Atlantic 