Heat Withers Opponents at Citi Open on MondayAs First Round Concludes
Steve Fogleman in Washington
You know what would be nice? If our Summer Series here in the States were in May or June like they are in Europe. I know they had record heat this summer over there, but it’s always roasting on this side of the Atlantic during the Citi Open, Canada, Cincinnati and the heat dome that is Flushing Meadows. That said, the heat seemed to play a factor at Rock Creek Park in Washington yesterday and it’ll be here all week.
Tereza Martincova was bageled in the first set of her first round win against qualifier Xinyu Wang. She took a bathroom break, returned 10 minutes later and recovered to win, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Yoshihito Nishioka, always one to stop and greet the fans after a win, ran off of John Harris grandstand yesterday and headed straight for the showers like he’d suffered a loss. In fact, the highly perspiring Nishioka won, 6-4, 6-3, over a very dejected Jenson Brooksby and will face Alex DeMinaur in similar conditions this afternoon.
Emil Ruusuvuori suffered through the first set against Mackenzie McDonald before shocking the American in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a match where it appeared the Mackster had it locked up in the later sets. Ruusuvuori gets Hubert Hurkacz this afternoon for a spot in the Round of 16.
Last night saw some promising players come up just short in their quest for the title in Washington. Dominik Koepfer took a first set tiebreak and kept it close before Karen Khachanov closed it out, 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4. Qualifier Borna Gojo gave Botic Van de Zandschulp a rough ride in the first set and throughout the match as the Dutchman eked out a 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4 finish.
Chris Eubanks bounced back from first set disappointment to topple France’s Benjamin Bonzi, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and Jack Sock thrilled the crowd on grandstand with a straight sets win over David Goffin, 7-6(4)-6-4.
First Round Action Kicks Off 2022 Citi Open Main Draw Play
Steve Fogleman in Washington
Andy Murray graced this city with his presence but bowed out in the first round of the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. on Monday night, falling to Sweden’s Michael Ymer in three sets.
“Yeah, it was disappointing obviously,” he said after the loss. “I thought there was some good tennis in the first set. After that both of us were struggling a bit physically. The level of the tennis was not great but, yeah, obviously had chances in the first set to close that out. I had set point in 6-5, then two in the tiebreaker, two or three in the tiebreaker, and didn’t get it. Frustrating.”
Murray opined that the only positive of the early loss was more time to practice before heading to Canada later in the week.
Earlier in the day, former world #1 Simona Halep faced little resistance from Spain’s Cristina Busca in the first set but went into a bit of a tailspin in the second before securing the victory.
“Yeah, my energy dropped (in the second set)” she said. “I’m not used. I didn’t play the last months in this heat. It’s always tricky to start the tournament. Now I know. I got used to the conditions better.”
She concluded, “First round is difficult. But it’s good that I finish in two sets.”
She should know. The last time she played here was in 2017, when she wilted in the heat on her way to retirement.
Top-ranked American Jessica Pegula was fully prepared for 2019 Citi Open upset specialist and local player Hailey Baptiste. Baptiste beat Madison Keys in the first round of the 2019 event here and Pegula was not looking past her.
I am a sucker for cliches like “epic comeback”, but Daria Saville’s match against qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund was one for the tournament. After losing the first set 6-3, she clawed back to win the next two sets and the match, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) after 3 hours and 9 minutes. The 10th game of the third set went on for 15 minutes and Bjorklund’s level of play never dropped. Saville, nee Gavrilova, will need the two day rest to face top American Pegula in the round of 16.
Kyle Edmund is back, mate! The 2020 New York Open champion (right as the coronavirus was attacking New York City for the first time) won his first match in almost 20 months today after injuries sidelined him from the tour. Edmund indicated that he was not at his best, but it’s good to see him back on court and I’m interested in how he’ll fare against countryman Daniel Evans tomorrow night.
British and Americans Headline a Magical Monday at Citi Open
Steve Fogleman in Washington
Main draw action is about to get underway at the Citi Open in Washington today. British compatriots Kyle Edmund, Jack Draper, Harriet Dart and Andy Murray look to successfully start the British campaign on the Nation’s Capital in singles, while Emma Raducanu will start with a doubles match.
It’s the U.S. Open Series, so you come to expect a lot of Americans in these events and you won’t be disappointed today. American #1 Jessica Pegula plays local talent Hailey Baptiste today. Baptiste shocked the tournament when she beat Madison Keys in the first round here in 2019 and we’ll see what surprises she has in store for us today.
More local talent is featured with Denis Kudla of nearby Arlington, Virginia as he squares off against Michael Mmoh, who was also born and raised in the neighboring Maryland suburbs.
And Venus Wiliams will be your American nightcap as she steps on Stadium court after 7:00 p.m. to face Canadian Rebecca Marino.
If al of that wasn’t enough for you, then how about a matinee match for former world #1 Simona Halep in action against Cristina Bucsa?
It’s summer tennis in the Mid-Atlantic and the matchups are about as good as it gets. I call Citi Open a “375”, because it’s an ATP 500 and a WTA 250. This opening day of this “375” feels like a Master’s event to me–or at least a Master’s opening day from 2018.
Sold Out Citi Open Saturday Play Sizzles; Tournament Steps Up to Match @Andy_Murray Ukraine Relief Funds
Steve Fogleman in Washington
WASHINGTON–The opening day of the 2022 Citi Open was one of the most action-packed days I’ve witnessed in over 20 years of attendance at the pro tennis tournament at Rock Creek Park in Washington. In years past, qualifying weekend was a somewhat low key affair, with free tickets and food and bouncy houses to attract families to the event. Last year, the King of Clay featured a qualifying weekend sellout and a packed stadium for Rafael Nadal’s practice sessions. So I was a little surprised to see a full house today to cheer on American players trying to make it into the main draw and watch practice sessions for Venus Williams, Simona Halep and others.
I almost missed the first match of the day as Tulane alum Dominik Koepfer needed only 42 minutes to dispatch Ryan Colby, 6-0, 6-0. Tomorrow, Koepfer will look for a main draw berth with a win against 19-year-old Shintaro Mochizuki, who advanced 6-1, 6-2 against American Alex Lawson.
Michael Mmoh, who has roots in the Washington area, routined his compatriot Raymond Sarmiento, 6-4, 6-2, and will square off against fellow American J.C. Aragone, who needed three sets to knock off Bruno Kuzuhara, 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4.
The women’s top qualifying seed Xiyu Wang topped Jamie Loeb, 6-4, 6-1, and the seeded women’s qualifiers did quite well today, with Heather Watson (3), Catherine McNally (7) and Sachia Vickery (8) all advancing to a final tomorrow. A notable exception was the 6 seed, Yue Yuan, who lost in three sets to Louisa Chirico on Stadium Court.
And finally, Citi Open tournament owner Mark Ein had a special announcement of the top of Andy Murray’s pre-tournament press conference at noon today. Murray, who has earmarked his summer tour earnings for Ukraine relief funding, will have his donations matched by the tournament. Murray had preciously announced that he would donate his tour earnings to the UNICEF Ukraine fund and now has double the reason to keep winning.
CINCINNATI (July 25, 2022)– Wimbledon finalist NickKyrgios has been awarded a wild card into the 2022 Western & Southern Open, where he was runner-up in 2017. It will mark Kyrgios’ sixth appearance in Cincinnati and first since 2019. The Wimbledon final earlier this month marked Kyrgios’ first Grand Slam major singles final. He has four wins over top 10 players this year and has reached three semifinals on the ATP Tour. In 2017, the unseeded Kyrgios defeated top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals enroute to the Western & Southern Open final, where he fell to seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov.
Kyrgios, an Australian, won his first Grand Slam major title in January when he won the Australian Open doubles with countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis. He owns six career singles titles and holds the distinction as one of two players to win his first meetings with Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Wild cards give players a chance to play an event they otherwise wouldn’t qualify to enter based on ranking. At No. 45 in last week’s ranking, Kyrgios fell just outside the cutoff for the Western & Southern Open.
Together with the WTA 1000 women’s tournament, the player fields feature the world’s top-ranked 41 men and 39 women, 11 past champions and 19 Grand Slam major winners including Serena Williams and 2021 U.S. Open champions Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu.
The tournament’s first serve will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 for the qualifying rounds. The men’s and women’s singles finals will be played on Sunday, Aug. 21. The schedule is available here.
Andy Murray (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)
Citi Open announces full preliminary player fields for its combined ATP/WTA event in Washington, D.C., July 30 – August 7, featuring Andy Murray, Simona Halep, Emma Raducanu, Taylor Fritz and more top talent
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Citi Open®, Washington, D.C.’s combined ATP/WTA professional tennis tournament, has released its preliminary player fields for this year’s event. The stacked competition includes three former World No. 1 players, six Grand Slam champions, four former Citi Open titlists, three Olympic gold medalists and 10 top 20 players. The 2022 Citi Open will be held July 30 – August 7 in Rock Creek Park.
Highlights from the main draws include:
Three Former World No. 1s: Andy Murray, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka
Six Grand Slam Champions: Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin (WC)
Three Olympic Gold Medalists: Andy Murray (London & Rio de Janeiro, Singles), Andrey Rublev (Tokyo, Mixed Doubles), Victoria Azarenka (London, Mixed Doubles)
Four Former Citi Open Champions: Nick Kyrgios, Kei Nishikori (WC), Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens
Ten Top 20 Players: Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz, Taylor Fritz, Denis Shapovalov, Reilly Opelka, Jessica Pegula, Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka
Eight of the Top Nine American Men: Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Jenson Brooksby, Maxime Cressy, Sebastian Korda, Mackenzie McDonald
Six 2022 Wimbledon Quarterfinalists: David Goffin, Taylor Fritz, Nick Kyrgios, Simona Halep (semifinalist), Marie Bouzkova, Ajla Tomljanovic
“We are thrilled to share the terrific field of top men’s and women’s players we have lined up for the 2022 Citi Open. The draws will be filled by Grand Slam champions, former World No. 1s, past Citi Open winners, top 20 players and a few new and exciting faces making their tournament debuts,” said Mark Ein, Citi Open Chairman. “In less than a month, our fans will get the opportunity to watch these incredible, world-class athletes, who they follow around the globe, compete right here in the nation’s capital. It’s going to be another memorable week of tennis in Washington.”
The Citi Open is one of only five combined tennis tournaments in the country, featuring professional competition from both men and women. Citi Open’s ATP 500 event will showcase 48 singles players and 16 doubles teams. The revived WTA 250 tournament will feature 32 singles competitors and 16 doubles teams. Additional players will join the main draws via wild card entry, to be announced in the coming weeks.
Among the new players announced today are:
Andy Murray, Three-time Grand Slam Champion & Former World No. 1: Andy Murray holds 46 career titles, including the 2012 US Open title and 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon titles. He was the first player to win two Olympic gold medals and was the first British World No. 1 player. This season he reached the finals in Stuttgart and Sydney. Murray will compete in the Citi Open for the fourth time in 2022, where he was a finalist in 2006 and a quarterfinalist in 2018.
Hubert Hurkacz, World No. 10: Hubert Hurkacz recently captured his fifth ATP title in Halle. This season he reached the semifinals in Miami and Dubai and the quarterfinals in Madrid and Monte Carlo. In 2021, the 25-year-old won the title in Metz, Miami and Delray Beach and was also a semifinalist at Wimbledon.
Denis Shapovalov, World No. 16: Canadian Denis Shapovalov is currently ranked World No. 16. The 23-year-old has reached three quarterfinals this season, at the Australian Open and in Doha and Rome, and the semifinals in Dubai. He is a 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist and 2020 US Open quarterfinalist.
Karen Khachanov, World No. 22: KarenKhachanov is a four-time ATP champion and is currently ranked World No. 22. The 26-year-old reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2021 and Roland-Garros in 2019. This season, he was a finalist in Adelaide (International 1) and a semifinalist in Doha and Belgrade.
Holger Rune, World No. 29: Holger Rune will make his Citi Open debut in 2022. The 19-year-old
captured his maiden ATP title this season in Munich. He also found success at Roland-Garros, where he became the first Danish man to reach the tournament’s quarterfinal. He is the 2019 Roland-Garros boys’ singles champion.
Jenson Brooksby, World No. 33: American Jenson Brooksby will compete in the Citi Open for the second time in 2022, where he was a semifinalist last year. In 2021, he reached the fourth round of the US Open as a 20-year-old wild card, becoming the first American in the US Open’s fourth round since Andy Roddick in 2002. Brooskby was a finalist in Dallas this season.
Sebastian Korda, World No. 46: Sebastian Korda, the 22-year-old American, will compete in the Citi Open for the second time in 2022. This year marks 30 years since his father, Petr Korda, captured the Citi Open title in 1992. His 2022 season included a quarterfinal appearance in Delray Beach and a semifinal berth in Estoril.
Mackenzie McDonald, World No. 55: Mackenzie McDonald reached his first ATP final at the 2021 Citi Open, where he defeated former champions and 2022 contenders Nick Kyrgios and Kei Nishikori on the way to the final. This year will be his fourth time competing in D.C. The 27-year-old American was a quarterfinalist this season in Dubai.
Ajla Tomljanovic, World No. 44: AustralianAjla Tomljanovic will make her debut appearance at the Citi Open this summer. This season, the 29-year-old reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and in Istanbul, Morocco and Nottingham. She was also a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 2021.
Other notable player additions in the field include Maxime Cressy, David Goffin, Tommy Paul, Elise Mertens and Marie Bouzkova. Several players in the 2022 field have also found success in Washington in years past. In addition to the four former singles champions, the field includes 2018 finalist Alex de Minaur, 2018 semifinalist Andrey Rublev, 2019 semifinalist Anna Kalinskaya, 2018 finalist Donna Vekic and 2013 finalist and 2017 and ‘18 semifinalist Andrea Petkovic.
Victoria Azarenka, Kei Nishikori, Jessica Pegula, Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur and Eugenie Bouchard join Citi Open’s growing player field Victoria Azarenka, Kei Nishikori, Jessica Pegula, Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur and Eugenie Bouchard join Citi Open’s growing player field
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The world’s best men’s and women’s tennis players will compete in Washington D.C. July 30 – August 7 at the Citi Open®. New player field additions include two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 player Victoria Azarenka, World No. 9 and 2019 Citi Open champion Jessica Pegula, 2014 Wimbledon finalist and 2017 Citi Open doubles finalist Eugenie Bouchard, 2015 Citi Open champion Kei Nishikori, two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov and 2018 Citi Open finalist Alex de Minaur.
The tournament’s growing player field now includes four Grand Slam champions, four Citi Open champions and seven current top 20 players.
The new player commitments join 2019 Citi Open champion Nick Kyrgios, D.C. native Frances Tiafoe, World No. 8 Andrey Rublev, 2022 Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz, World No. 18 Reilly Opelka, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, 2015 Citi Open and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the D.C. field, with more player announcements coming soon.
I’ve been attending this event for years and Kei Nishikori attracted the attention of more fans than any other player in Washington. Except last year, when all eyes were on the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, in his D.C. debut.
“We are thrilled about the incredibly strong and deep field of men’s and women’s players we are building for the 2022 Citi Open, including so many Grand Slam champions, former Citi Open champions and fan favorites,” said Mark Ein, Citi Open Chairman. “With even more player commitments on the near horizon, it will be another unforgettable week of tennis in the nation’s capital for our fans in person and those watching around the world.”
New Citi Open ATP player field additions:
Kei Nishikori (WC), 2015 Citi Open Champion: Nishikori is the top Asian men’s tennis player in history. He holds 12 career ATP titles and is the 2015 Citi Open champion, where he has acquired an 18-7 record. Along with his title in D.C., the Japanese player has also reached the tournament’s quarterfinal round and semifinal round twice, respectively. He is a Grand Slam finalist, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist and a nine-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist. In 2021, he reached the semifinals in D.C. and the quarterfinals in Dubai, Rotterdam and at The Olympics.
Grigor Dimitrov, World No. 21: Dimitrov holds eight career titles and a career-high ranking of World No. 3. The fan favorite Bulgarian will play the Citi Open for the seventh time this year, where he reached the quarterfinals in 2013. This season, he had semifinal berths in Monte Carlo and Melbourne and quarterfinal appearances in Indian Wells and Delray Beach. Dimitrov has also reached two Grand Slam semifinals and three Grand Slam quarterfinals.
Alex de Minaur, 2018 Citi Open Finalist & World No. 24: de Minaur will compete at the Citi Open for the fourth time in 2022. He reached the D.C. final in 2018. The Australian has captured five ATP titles, including two in 2021 in Eastbourne and Antalya. So far this season, he has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, quarterfinals in Rotterdam and semifinals in Lyon and Barcelona. He was also a quarterfinalist at the 2020 US Open.
New Citi Open WTA player field additions:
Victoria Azarenka, 2-time Grand Slam Champion, Former World No.1 & Current World No. 20:Former World No. 1 Azarenka will make her Citi Open debut in 2022. She holds 21 career WTA singles titles and is a two-time Australian Open champion, winning the Grand Slam in 2012 and 2013. She has also played the US Open final three times and has reached the semifinals of both Wimbledon and Roland-Garros. This season, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals in Adelaide. Her 2021 season included a finals run in Indian Wells, semifinal appearances in Berlin and Doha and quarterfinal matches in Montreal and Bad Homburg.
Jessica Pegula, 2019 Citi Open Champion & World No. 9: Top 10 player Pegula won her maiden WTA singles title at the 2019 Citi Open. She reached the tournament’s semifinals in 2016 and was also victorious in Washington in 2021, when she was named the Citi Open Women’s Invitational champion. The American has had a strong 2022 season, including a back-to-back Australian Open quarterfinals appearance, a second Grand Slam quarterfinal in Roland-Garros, a finals berth in Madrid and semifinals appearance in Miami.
Eugenie Bouchard (WC), 2014 Wimbledon Finalist: Bouchard is returning to tennis this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2021. The Canadian has a career-high ranking of World No. 5 and is a Grand Slam finalist and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. In 2021, she was a finalist in Guadalajara. This will be her seventh time playing the Citi Open, where she reached the singles quarterfinal in 2012 and the doubles final with partner Sloane Stephens in 2017.
The Citi Open is one of only five combined tennis tournaments in the country, featuring professional competition from both men and women. Citi Open’s ATP 500 event will showcase 48 singles players and 16 doubles teams. Its revived WTA 250 event will celebrate its 10th edition in 2022 with a player field featuring 32 singles competitors and 16 doubles teams. The tournament will continue to announce players and updates in the coming weeks.
In April 2019, MDE Sports, owned and led by Washington-based venture capitalist, entrepreneur and civic leader Ein, acquired the management rights of the Citi Open tournament from the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), a non-profit which provides free tennis and educational programs for children in underserved communities. This acquisition secured the Citi Open’s future in the U.S. and specifically in Washington.
For more than 50 years, the Citi Open has hosted top tennis talent in Rock Creek Park. The tournament was founded to support Arthur Ashe’s vision of playing a professional tennis tournament in a fully accessible public park. The Citi Open has continued to build and expand the event, with the goal of positively impacting the Washington community and creating one of the best events in the world. The WTEF, a longtime beneficiary of the Citi Open, capitalizes on the tournament annually for fundraising and has raised millions for youth programs in the Washington area.
Last year’s tournament was the most successful in the event’s history, shattering previous attendance records and selling out all sessions throughout the week. Full tournament packages and single session tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via citiopentennis.com or by calling (202) 721-9500. To learn more about the tournament, ticket options, player fields, event policies and more, visit citiopentennis.com.
Emma Raducanu, of Britain, reacts after scoring a point against Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
2021 US OPEN CHAMPION EMMA RADUCANU TO MAKE WASHINGTON D.C. TOURNAMENT DEBUT IN AUGUST
Grand Slam champion and World No. 12 Emma Raducanu to compete in 2022 Citi Open
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu will compete in the 2022 Citi Open®, Washington, D.C.’s premier tennis tournament, July 30 through August 7 at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. The tournament recently announced it will once again host a WTA event in conjunction with its current ATP event, making the Citi Open one of only five combined tennis tournaments in the country, featuring professional competition from both men and women.
Raducanu exploded onto the tennis scene in 2021, after winning her first title at the US Open in September. Just 18 years old and ranked World No. 150 at the time, she became the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam and the first British woman to win one since 1977. Her historic run to the title included a 20-set win streak, where she captured all 10 matches in Flushing Meadows in two sets.
Her 2021 season also included a memorable fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon, where she was awarded a main-draw Wild Card and defeated several top players in her Grand Slam tournament debut.
“The past few weeks have been very exciting for Washington tennis fans. We officially announced the return of the Hologic WTA Tour to the Citi Open, and now, the reigning US Open champion will compete in our player field this August,” said Mark Ein, Citi Open Chairman. “Emma delighted crowds and took the tennis world by storm last summer when she made her unforgettable run to the US Open title. We can’t wait to welcome Emma to DC for the first time.”
Currently ranked World No. 12, Raducanu’s 2022 season has included appearances at the Australian Open, BNP Paribas Open, Miami Open, Mutua Madrid Open and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where she reached the quarterfinal and went head-to-head with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. This will be the British teen’s first time competing in Washington.
“I’m thrilled that the Citi Open is bringing back its WTA tournament and I’m really excited to compete on the courts in DC for the first time,” said Raducanu. “The past year has been an unforgettable time in my tennis career and I look forward to adding new memories in Washington this summer.”
Citi Open’s revived WTA 250 event will celebrate its 10th edition in 2022 with a stacked player field, featuring 32 singles competitors, 16 doubles teams and 16 qualifiers. The inaugural tournament was staged in 2011 at College Park, MD and moved venues to Washington in 2012. Past champions include Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens and the doubles team of Coco Gauff and Caty McNally.
Coco Gauff, Mark Ein, Caty McNally, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)
THE WTA RETURNS TO WASHINGTON D.C. THIS SUMMER FOR COMBINED TOURNAMENT AT THE CITI OPEN
Citi Open becomes one of only five combined ATP/WTA Tour events in the country
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Citi Open®, Washington, D.C.’s premier tennis tournament since 1969 and the fifth largest tennis event in the United States, has announced it will again host a WTA tournament in conjunction with its current ATP event. The Citi Open tournament is one of only five combined tour events in the country, featuring competition from both the ATP and WTA. The 2022 tournament will be held July 30 through August 7 at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center.
Citi Open had a different feel last year without the WTA. You shouldn’t have to travel to Charleston, New York or Cincinnati to watch women in the highest levels of competition, so this is great news to thousands of fans from Baltimore to Richmond to Harrisburg.
Jess Pegula, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)
Citi Open’s revived WTA 250 event will celebrate its 10th edition this summer with a stacked player field, featuring 32 singles competitors, 16 doubles teams and 16 qualifiers. The inaugural tournament was staged in 2011 at College Park, MD and moved venues to Washington in 2012. Past champions include Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens and the doubles team of Coco Gauff and Caty McNally.
“Our Washington, D.C. community has embraced professional women’s tennis since World TeamTennis first came here in 2008 and the Citi Open tournament hosted its first WTA event in 2011. Our city and event attendees are avid women’s tennis fans, and tennis, uniquely among pro sports, showcases both genders on its biggest stages. Presenting a combined tournament with men’s and women’s players has always been the goal for the Citi Open,” said Mark Ein, Citi Open Chairman. “For the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to bring the Hologic WTA Tour back to our event and we are thrilled to announce both its return to D.C. this summer, as well as another big pro tournament coming back to the United States.”
Camila Giorgi, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)
In April 2019, MDE Sports, owned and led by Washington-based venture capitalist, entrepreneur and civic leader Ein, acquired the management rights of the Citi Open tournament from the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), a non-profit which provides free tennis and educational programs for children in underserved communities. This acquisition secured the Citi Open’s future in the U.S. and specifically in Washington.
MDE Sports has pursued ensuring that a WTA tournament is part of the long-term future for the Citi Open, with the objective of supporting women’s tennis, guaranteeing the game thrives in the U.S. and providing an opportunity for Washington’s large base of tennis fans to enjoy women’s tennis with a combined event.
“I am delighted the Citi Open is returning to the WTA tennis calendar this summer,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “The tournament and the Washington community have a rich history on the Hologic WTA Tour, with many of the game’s biggest names gracing the courts in previous editions in the nation’s capital. I am grateful to the tournament organizers for their support and for providing the world’s best women’s tennis players the opportunity to showcase their talent.”
The tournament team worked with Citi to ensure that women’s tennis remained a significant element of the event, as a commitment to educate, advocate and support women in sports.
Planning and player commitments are underway for the 2022 Citi Open. Last year’s tournament was the most successful in the event’s history, shattering previous attendance records and selling out all sessions throughout the week. Full tournament packages are on sale now and can be purchased via email at tickets@mdetennis.com or by calling (202) 721-9500. To learn more about the tournament, ticket options, player fields, event policies and more, visit citiopentennis.com.
In 2015, Taylor Fritz captured the Easter Bowl Boys’ ITF singles title on his way to the No. 1 junior ranking in the world. On Sunday he won his first Masters 1000 event the BNP Paribas Open at the same venue, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Dave Kenas/Easter Bowl
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (March 22, 2022) – The FILA Easter Bowl returns to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the 54th edition of one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious junior tennis tournaments.
Nearly every singles American men’s and women’s Grand Slam champion has competed in the FILA Easter Bowl, a true pipeline to the professional ranks, including past champions John McEnroe, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati and Andy Roddick. The FILA Easter Bowl 18s division is an ITF Level JB1 and the USTA Spring National Championship in the 16s, 14s and 12s for both boys and girls with gold, silver and bronze balls handed out for top finishers in all eight divisions.
On Sunday, 2015 Easter Bowl Boys’ ITF singles champion Taylor Fritz completed his memorable run to capture his hometown BNP Paribas Open title against all-time great Rafael Nadal just steps away from where Coachella Valley tennis fans first caught a glimpse of the American star now ranked No. 13 in the world.
This year’s girls’ field is highlighted by 2019 USTA Girls’ 16s National Hardcourts singles champion Reese Brantmeier, who is currently ranked No. 536 in the singles WTA rankings. The 17-year-old Brantmeier from Whitewater, Wisc., won two rounds in qualifying at the US Open in September. She qualified and beat top-seeded Allie Kiick before falling in the quarterfinals at a USTA Pro Circuit $25,000 event in Vero Beach, Fla., in January.
Out to defend the FILA Easter Bowl title she won last spring as an unknown qualifier is 16-year-old high school sophomore Liv Hovde. Hovde is originally from Minnesota and moved with her family to McKinney, Texas, around age 10 to train with former Australian Grand Slam champion Phil Dent and his son Taylor and wife Jenny at the Dent Tennis Academy in Keller, Texas. Last year, Hovde won nine matches in nine days on her way to the title. She is ranked No. 8 in the ITF world singles rankings.
Last year’s boys’ ITF finalist Ethan Quinn, currently a redshirt freshman at the University of Georgia, is entered in the FILA Easter Bowl and is ranked No. 20 in the ITF world junior rankings. Just last weekend Quinn qualified for the USTA Pro Circuit $25,000 Futures and advanced all the way to the semifinals. He will contend with the likes of 16-year-old Nishesh Basavareddy from Carmel, Ind. Basavareddy (No. 24). Cooper Williams from Greenwich, Conn., sits right behind Basavareddy in the rankings at No. 25 and will be seeded, as will Nicholas Godsick (No. 30) of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Michael Zheng (No. 31) from Montville, N.J.
This year, the winner of the boys’ and girls’ 14s singles titles at the FILA Easter Bowl will be awarded spots in Wimbledon’s inaugural 14&U Championships.
In the girls’ 16s top-seeded players include: Stephanie Yakoff from New Jersey and headed to Harvard University; draw also includes Amber Yin of Missouri and Brooke Lynn Schafer from Georgia.
In the girls’ 14s top-seeded players include: Capucine Jauffret from Delaware; draw also includes Emerey Gross from St. Louis, Mo., Elizabeth Fauchet from Tennessee.
In the girls’ 12s top-seeded players include: Sephi Sheng from Palo Alto, Calif., Akanksha Parahsar from Fremont, Calif., and Welles Newman from Boca Raton, Fla.
In the boys’ 16 stop-seeded players include: Andrew Ena from New York, Stephan Gershfeld from New York and Cyrus Mahjoob from Maryland.
In the boys’ 14s top-seeded players include: Ronit Karki of New Jersey, Jon Gamble from Las Vegas and Laguna Niguel’s Jagger Leach.
In the boys’ 12s top-seeded players include: Izyan Ahmad from New Jersey, Jordan Lee from Orlando, Fla., and Vihann Reedy from San Jose, Calif.
With the exception of the Williams sisters, nearly every American male and female player in the current Top 100 world rankings has played the FILA Easter Bowl at the current site of the BNP Paribas Open, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, including Fritz, Sofia Kenin, Sebastian Korda, Jenson Brooksby, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, and Brandon Nakashima, just to name a few. The iconic junior tournament started by Seena Hamilton in 1968 and now led by Tournament Chairman Lornie Kuhle. The FILA Easter Bowl has long been considered the Super Bowl of junior tennis. No other junior tennis tournament in the United States possesses the same rich history as the FILA Easter Bowl. The tournament was started in New York City and has been played in Florida, Arizona and California.
To keep up with all the FILA Easter Bowl news, visit the website at www.easterbowl.com and check out the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EasterBowl) and Twitter (@easterbowl) and Instagram (@easterbowl).
The FILA Easter Bowl will be live streamed at www.easterbowl.com. Check that site for all the latest news, results and schedules.
Tennis Atlantic 