Citi Open will have to wait another year to celebrate its 52nd edition as tournament officials officially pulled the plug on pro tennis in the Nation’s Capital for 2020.
“After months of tireless work by our team and close collaboration with our many stakeholders, we are heartbroken to announce that we must, unfortunately, postpone the 52nd Citi Open until the summer of 2021,” the tournament said in an email to fans.
“With only 23 days left until the start of the tournament, there are too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions as well as troubling health and safety trends, that have forced us to make this decision now in fairness to our players, suppliers, and partners, so that they can have certainty around their planning.”
Fans or no fans, it would have been exciting to have the ATP restart in Washington. Now all eyes will focus on New York. where the Western & Southern Open is scheduled to start on August 22.
And the USTA wants you to know that the Cincy tournament is still on.
“This decision in no way impacts the US Open or the Western & Southern Open,” according to the a statement issued through the Citi Open. “The USTA will create a safe and controlled environment for players and everyone else involved in both tournaments that mitigates health risks that was approved by the State of New York and also conforms to the standards put forth by New York City and the federal government. We constantly base our decisions regarding hosting these tournaments on our three guiding principles that include safe and healthy of all involved, whether hosting these events are in the best interest in the sport of tennis and whether this decision is financially viable. We are confident we remain in-line with all three guiding principles.”
Cheers to Citi Open CEO Mark Ein for trying to keep the event alive this year.
I don’t know about you, but this sounds like an EXCELLENT time to head to West Virginia.
—S. Fogleman
Tennis Atlantic 