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Sold Out @CitiOpen Saturday Play Sizzles; Tournament Steps Up to Match @Andy_Murray Ukraine Relief Funds

Posted by Admin on July 30, 2022
Posted in: ATP, ATP Qualifying, Citi Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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.

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2021 @CitiOpen Women’s Invitational Starts Tonight

Posted by Admin on August 5, 2021
Posted in: Citi Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2021 Citi Open Women’s Invitational Starts Tonight

WASHINGTON-AUGUST 5—Starting tonight, Coco Gauff, Victoria Azarenka and Jessica Pegula will compete in the Citi Open Women’s Invitational, a special, round-robin singles event as part of Citi Open week. Pegula and Gauff were crowned singles and doubles champions, respectively, in the WTA Tour’s 2019 Citi Open.

The inaugural champion will receive $25,000 in prize money. The Women’s Sports Foundation will be the beneficiary of the tournament and will receive a $50,000 donation from the Citi Open, Citi and the Mark and Sally Ein Foundation. 

Coco Gauff

  • WTA No. 25; 2019 Citi Open women’s doubles champion; 5 WTA titles (2 singles, 3 doubles); 2021 French Open quarterfinalist

Victoria Azarenka

  • Current WTA No. 15; Former World No. 1; 30 WTA titles (21 singles, 9 doubles); 2012 and 2013 Australian Open winner; 2012, 2013 and 2020 U.S. Open finalist
Jess Pegula, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Jessica Pegula

  • 2019 Citi Open women’s singles champion; Current WTA No. 28; 2021 Australian Open quarterfinalist

Schedule:            

Thursday, August 5 (Following tonight’s. match on Stadium Court)

Coco Gauff vs. Victoria Azarenka

Friday, August 6 (Final day session match on Stadium Court)

Victoria Azarenka vs. Jessica Pegula

Saturday August 7 (Following 7 p.m. match on Stadium Court)

Coco Gauff vs. Jessica Pegula

The format is best of 3 sets, regular scoring, with a 10-point super-tiebreak to decide the third. The player with the best record will be crowned the champion. In the event of a tie, the champion will be decided by most sets, or if necessary, most games won.

2021 @CitiOpen to Honor Heroes of the Pandemic

Posted by Admin on August 2, 2021
Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Scientists, Medical Professionals, Teachers, and More To Be Highlighted During 2021 Tournament

Washington D.C. (August 2, 2021) – Citi Open Chairman Mark Ein announced today that the theme of this year’s Citi Open is “Honoring Heroes of the Pandemic.” Throughout the tournament, images of pandemic heroes will be featured around the stadium complex alongside images of tennis greats, and stories will be told daily on social media. Each night before the 7:00 pm coin toss on the stadium court, organizations and individuals that have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to help the region, nation and world will be honored in front of players and the sold-out crowd.

“None of us could be at the Citi Open this year if it were not for the many unsung heroes of the pandemic,” said Citi Open Chairman Mark Ein. “We want to use our platform to recognize the incredible dedication and contributions of the scientists, medical professionals, teachers, and non-profits whose inspiring work saved lives and protected our communities. We hope the nation and the world will join us in celebrating these true heroes.”

Heroes of the Pandemic Honorees:

Tonight/Monday: Rockefeller Foundation and Teachers from Friendship Charter School 
Tuesday: Thanks USA Military Appreciation
Wednesday: Scientists and Researchers from Johns Hopkins University
Thursday: DC Police, Fire, EMS workers, and DC Educators
Friday: World Central Kitchen
Saturday: March of Dimes
Sunday: Doctors and Nurses from Medstar Health

Citi Open fans may follow the tournament’s latest news and activity on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CitiOpen), Twitter and Instagram (@CitiOpen).

Good Weather and Great Playing Field Made 2019 @CitiOpen A Champion Among Tournaments

Posted by Admin on August 4, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, Washington, Washington Kastles, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Good Weather and Great Playing Field Made 2019 @CitiOpen A Champion Among Tournaments
Steve Fogleman in Washington

Coco Gauff, Mark Ein, Caty McNally, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Coco Gauff, Mark Ein, Caty McNally, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Saturday was simply spectacular at the Citi Open in Washington. The fired-up crowds for the women’s doubles final and the Kyrgios-Tsitsipas men’ semifinal were unprecedented in my decade at this event. Fans paid upwards of $300 to get into the sold-out men’s semifinals yesterday. Between the dry conditions all week, also unprecedented, and the the stellar player field, this Citi Open was bigger and better than ever.

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Tournament owner Mark Ein, who also owns the Washington Kastles, couldn’t have imagined that the weather would cooperate for him in this fashion, nor did he know Cori Gauff was going to come to Washington straight off of Wimbledon. He didn’t know that Andy Murray would make his triumphant return to Washington only a year after exiting on pain in suffering here.

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Let’s face it, the only thing that didn’t go Mark Ein’s way this week was that, in a perfect world, Andy and Jamie Murray would be playing for the doubles title this afternoon. Sure, Sloane Stephens, Genie Bouchard and Madison Keys dropped early, but that happens everywhere, every day. All tolled, this nine day event was nearly flawless and everything the new owner could have hoped for when he signed on.

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Whether Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios or Camilla Giorgi notch another title and get their names installed on the ring of honor on Stadium Court today will be entertaining. Whether Jessica Pegula wins her first tour level title in front of an American audience would be lovely, but at the end of this week, I can reflect and say that the real champions of this event are the staff and volunteers who make order from all of this chaos known as a pro tennis tournament. And for Mark Ein, he’s got to be proud of his champion among tournaments that was the 2019 Citi Open.

Venus Williams Shines in Olympic Send Off at Washington Kastles (VIDEO)

Posted by Admin on July 23, 2012
Posted in: London, olympics, Washington, Washington Kastles, World Team Tennis. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Venus is packing her pooch for good luck

Last night, Serena Williams was scheduled to be in attendance at the Washington Kastles home match against the Kansas City Explorers, but decided against testing her back before London 2012. Venus Williams substituted for her younger sister and she did not disappoint in any way. After posting back-to-back 5-1 wins in womens singles and doubles to give the home team an insurmountable lead, Williams was warmly embraced by the sellout crowd and attracted so many well wishers all the way to her ride to the airport that she must have cut the flight close. You can catch that scene at the end of the video below.

Earlier, in a pre-match press conference, Wiliams was asked what she thought about grunting. She said “tonight you’ll see the intensity level go and up and down, the voices will go up and down, in the crowd and on the court. It’s just tennis.”

Venus Williams plants a kiss on WTT Washington Kastles Owner Mark Ein before departing for London

Venus Williams is about much more than just tennis. Pro tennis players rarely make an impact on our lives the way that Venus has. What else can explain the intense attachment that the fans feel for her?

–S. Fogleman