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Empire State of Mind in Mountain State as @NYEmpireTennis Advance to @WorldTeamTennis Final

Posted by Admin on August 1, 2020
Posted in: ATP, World Team Tennis, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Empire State of Mind in Mountain State as @NYEmpireTennis Advance to @WorldTeamTennis Final

The New York Empire advanced to the World Team Tennis final at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia with a 22-18 win over the top-seeded Philadelphia Freedoms this afternoon.

Jack Sock and Neal Skupski broke serve and started New York off with a 2 game lead after beating Fabrice Martin and Taylor Fritz, 5-3. They never relinquished that lead. Coco Vandeweghe played Sofia Kenin close in a 5-4 loss and frankly, did her job by minimizing the effectiveness of the Freedoms most potent weapon.

The big turning point of the affair came when Sock and Vandeweghe posted a 5-1 mixed doubles win over Taylor Townsend and Fabrice Martin/Taylor Fritz. Fritz was inserted into the match after the Freedoms were down 4-0. Vandeweghe teamed up with Nicole Melichar against Townsend and Caroline Dolehide. Philadelphia scrapped to a 5-3 win to keep hope alive. In the final set, Taylor Fritz needed a miracle comeback against Sock to turn the match for Philadelphia. Fritz challenged Sock all the way to the tiebreak, which Sock won 5-3 to seal the victory for his team.

—S. Fogleman in White Sulphur Springs, WV

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11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today

Posted by Admin on August 22, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Asia Muhammad, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today
Steve Fogleman in Queens

It’s last call to be a part of a dream-making Friday at the US Open where 16 men and 16 women will emerge from the hundreds of competitors who came for the very same thing. 11 Americans play on Thursday to attempt to join Taylor Townsend and one Jenson Brooksby as qualifying finalists.

Court 4 features Asia Muhammad against Bulgaria’s Isabella Shinkova. American Asia Muhammad faces #16 seed Barbara Krejcikova in the third and final match.

Caroline Dolehide takes on Australian Zoe Hives in the opener on Court 7 and 15-year-old Katrina Scott tries to stun the Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the third match.

Courts 11 and 12 boast an American player for every match. In one case, two compatriots will clash. Robin Anderson and Nicole Gibbs go head to head for the third time and Anderson holds the 2-1 head to head edge. Before the all-American match on Court 11, fans will look forward to perennial American qualifier Mitchell Krueger battle Egor Gerasimov followed by a bout between Hailey Baptiste and British talent Harriet Dart.

Home-grown pros Noah Rubin and Christina McHale are showcased on Court 12 today, after the opening match pitting American Varvara Lepchenko against Georgina Garcia Perez.

Q2 Matches to Watch at @USOpen Wednesday

Posted by Admin on August 21, 2019
Posted in: ATP, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Ankita Raina, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Ankita Raina, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Q2 Matches to Watch at US Open Wednesday
Steve Fogleman in Queens

The rubber hits the road today as players can almost smell the $90,000.00 first round prize money and the glory of a three-match winning streak. A win in the second round today will lead you to the wall that is one more match to qualify for America’s biggest tennis prize, main draw at the U.S. Open in New York.

Danka Kovinic

Danka Kovinic

D. Kovinic (MNE) [12] vs. V. Gracheva (RUS)
24-year-old Danka Kovinic hasn’t won a main draw tour level match all year after injury but put together a superb comeback in three sets against Allie Kiick on Monday. Today, she faces #184 Varvara Gracheva, who looked sharp in qualifying matches in Washington last month.

Jana Cepelova, WTA Washington CitiOpen 2012

Cepelova

I. Begu (ROU) [3] vs. J. Cepelova (SVK)
Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu looks like it’s her match to lose today to the always upset-minded Czech Cepelova, but you might want to re-think that. Cepelova is 3-0 against Begu, with their last meeting at New Haven in 2017.

Hyeon Chung (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

S. Napolitano (ITA) vs. H. Chung (KOR) [29]
Two years ago, you wouldn’t have been surprised to find Chung in the round of 16 here. Injuries and bad luck have taken their toll, but we’ll find out where his game is in a match against Italy’s Stefano Napolitano, who’s trying to qualify for any tour-level main draw, let alone a grand slam. This is a first meeting, but Chung is 8-2 in his last 10 hard court matches, so edge to him.

Taylor Townsend, 2018 Boyd Tinsley Women's Clay Court Classic

Taylor Townsend, 2018 Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic

T. Townsend (USA) [13] vs. V. Cepede Royg (PAR)
Can Taylor Townsend unplug the VCR today? Paraguayan Cepede-Royg is 2-0 against the American overwhelming crowd favorite and higher-ranked player.

Sugita at Newport 2013, TennisEastCoast.com

J. Brooksby (USA) vs. Y. Sugita (JPN) [27]
Japan’s Yuichi Sugita is always around at the slams and the bigger tournaments qualifying draws. American Jenson Brooksby, a wild card recipient, shares one thing with Sugita: they’re both playing excellent tennis on hard courts right now. Brooksby took out lesser-known Japanese player Kaichi Uchida on Monday in straight sets, but this is Yuichi Sugita.

A. Raina (IND) vs. D. Allertova (CZE)
Can India’s #1 player inch closer to her first main draw of a Grand Slam today? Denisa Allertova stands in the way and as these players have never met and both went three sets in round 1, this is a true toss-up.

Top Seeds Advance at @Cville_USTA Boar’s Head Women’s Open

Posted by Admin on April 24, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Charlottesville, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Top Seeds Advance at Boar’s Head Women’s Open
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

Charlottesville is free tennis. So I couldn’t say “free tennis!” today when all four of the opening matches of the day went the distance to three sets. Caty McNally messed with Francesca DiLorenzo’s mind today. The French and US Open junior doubles champion showed major league poise after a strong first set and getting bageled in the second. In a 15 minute game to open the third ser, Di Lorenzo held serve and I was certain that she would win the match. That’s why I don’t bet on tennis. McNally held serve and waited for DiLorenzo to make the errors. McNally is on to the next round to face Sesil Karatantcheva.

Caty McNally, 2019 Boar's Head Women's Open (Photo Credit: Christopher Levy)

Caty McNally (Photo Credit: Christopher Levy)

Louisa Chirico posted a serious comeback win today: Down 2-5 and a set, she forced a second set tiebreak before cruising through, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 over wild card Natasha Subhash, who hadn’t played a match on clay in nearly seven months. Next up for Chirico is a date with 2018 finalist Anhelina Kalinina, a 6-2, 6-4 victor over Erin Routliffe.

Taylor Townsend was the late wild card and top seed and she delivered, besting Sanaz Marand 7-5, 6-1. Townsend and Caroline Dolehide will face off in a second round show of American firepower tomorrow.

Lucie Hradecka, with her protected ranking, didn’t look like much on paper coming into this event. After today’s 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of Australia’s Kim Birrell, she looks like a favorite to win this whole thing. But like I said, I don’t bet on tennis, so don’t blame me.

Make it Eight Straight Sets for @MaryDuqueMarino as she advances to @TinsleyClassic Final in Charlottesville

Posted by Admin on April 28, 2018
Posted in: Boyd Tinsley Classic, Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Virginia, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Make it Eight Straight Sets for Duque-Marino as she advances to TinsleyClassic Final in Charlottesville

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Mariana Duque-Marino made it four straight matches without dropping a set at the 2018 Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic in Charlottesville, Virginia with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over American Jennifer Brady. Both players came out tentatively, and Duque-Marino even gave up a break on a

double-fault before settling down to take the first set and the match.  “I think I did a lot of double faults because she was pressuring me with her forehand,” she told me after the match. “So if I didn’t put the first serve on the court, I would have to run–a lot. That’s why I was trying to force the second serve a little bit,” she continued. “My forehand was very good and with my slice, very happy today.”

Boyd Tinsley Women's Clay Court Classic Trophy

Boyd Tinsley Women’s Clay Court Classic Trophy

Duque-Marino will put her 8 set win streak on the line tomorrow against either Taylor Townsend or Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine. Townsend beat Duque-Marino in 3 sets last week in the Dothan final. I pointed out the Boar’s Head trophy, which stood nearby and asked if she’d like to take the glass and metal violin trophy home with her tomorrow.

“It’s different. I never had one of those ones, but tomorrow I hope to play the same like the matches before.” she said with a smile.

—S. Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

From 32 to 8, Charlottesville’s @TinsleyClassic on Track for Exciting Weekend Finish

Posted by Admin on April 27, 2018
Posted in: Charlottesville, ITF, USTA, USTA Pro Circuit, Virginia, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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When the weather cooperates, the Boyd Tinsley Women’s Tennis Classic in Charlottesville, VA, is one of the best tennis experiences in the world. I’ve been through monsoons here and I’ve been through beautiful spring days. And Thursday was a beautiful day on the Har-Tru at the Boar’s Head Sports Resort. 16 first round matches and 8 second round matches were on order due to Wednesday’s rainout. It was perfect for the fans and for the dogs. I saw more dogs today at a tournament than I have ever seen before. It’s called “growing the sport.”

Conditions were a little doggy for the players in the early going. For the first players on the courts on Thursday, the surface played very slow. After Allie Kiick beat Louisa Chirico before 11 a.m., she told me that “we were both hitting” dropshots and that “for two whole games, we had nothing but dropshots.”

Jen Brady and Allie Kiick needed three sets to open the day, with both staging comeback wins over Irina Falconi and Louisa Chirico respectively. In the 2nd round, it was all Jen Brady from the start and she advanced to a quarterfinal match today against Katerina Stewart.

Camilla Rosatello needed little time to dispatch Olga Ianchuk, who immediately went behind the court and sobbed into a phone call after the match. Cheer up, Olga! Mariana Duque-Marino spoiled my debut of Iga Swiatek 7-6(3), 6-3, and in the nightcap, Duque-Marino proved the tougher competitor in  a 6-2, 6-3 sweep of Rosatello. She’ll face the plucky Grace Min today for a spot in the semis.
As for Min, she beat an error-prone Jamie Loeb yesterday morning before taking out Sophie Chang in the nightcap. Chang continued to impress since Charleston with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Victoria Duval earlier in the day.

Top seed Madison Brengle looked out of form, in all of her talking to herself idiosyncratic ways and plaintively looking at her mother in the stands all day. She wasted little time taking out American Maria Sanchez in straights in the first round and then completely fell apart in the round of 16, losing 6-2, 6-1 to Mari Osaka. Osaka plays Anhelina Kalinina later today.

Speaking of dogs: Ashley Kratzer celebrated with her dog, Koa, after a win over Lizette Cabrera in the morning. In late afternoon, she faced Sesil Karatantcheva. That’s when Krasher’s real dog days began. Karantantcheva advanced to play Taylor Townsend, 6-2, 7-6(5).

And then there’s Taylor Townsend. Inching ever closer to the Roland Garros Wild Card, she made another big step forward yesterday to make the quarters at this $80,000.00 event. The window is closing on other Americans to step up and make it a race. With Brady, Stewart and Min the only other Americans still standing at Charlottesville, a semis showing here should nearly wrap it up for Townsend. She showed yesterday that she is heads above the talent field at this level and it’s good to see her succeed.

—S. Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

 

Americans @JLoeb308 and @SachiaVick To Face Off In Final At Central Coast Pro Tennis Open

Posted by Admin on October 1, 2017
Posted in: USTA, USTA Pro Circuit, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Jamie Loeb

Jamie Loeb (Photo: Mike Peeples: http://www.mpeeples.com)

Americans Loeb and Vickery To Face Off In Final At Central Coast Pro Tennis Open

TEMPLETON, Calif. (Sept. 30, 2017) – Jamie Loeb and Taylor Townsend left the best for last on Saturday in the first semifinal of the inaugural Central Coast Pro Tennis Open as the two young Americans battled it out for a spot in the finals on a picture-perfect day at the $60,000 USTA Women’s Pro Circuit event at the Templeton Tennis Ranch.

Loeb, who was 1-1 head-to-head against Townsend in 2017 heading into the match, captured the win in dramatic fashion as the 22-year-old former NCAA singles champion from the University of North Carolina outlasted the No. 5 seeded 21-year-old Townsend in a three-hour match, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8).

The last two tiebreak sets were all-action and left the enthusiastic Templeton tennis fans rooting for more.

“I don’t know how long that match was, but Taylor and I have played some great ones,” Loeb told the supportive crowd after the match. “She’s a great player and I knew I would have to be at my top level to beat her. It was close, but I’m so fortunate to get the win and move onto the final.”

After taking the first set, Loeb fell down 1-5 in the second before storming back only to come up short in a tight and exciting tiebreaker, 7-6 (9-7). In the deciding set, Loeb had lapses on her serve, but stuck with her game plan to finally pull out the clincher in yet another tiebreaker, 10-8.

Loeb has won seven USTA Pro Circuit singles titles and six doubles titles. Her last $60,000 level win came in Australia back in January.

Loeb’s opponent in the final will be fellow 22-year-old American Sachia Vickery, who came back to upset top-seeded Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Vickery not only came back after losing the first set, but battled back from down 1-3 in the third set to beat Golubic, who she also took out in three sets in a Quebec City event recently, again winning in three sets after dropping the first.

“Today’s tennis was Pro Circuit at its best,” said Ralph Goehring tournament director and owner of the Templeton Tennis Ranch. “We saw pure athleticism and strategy and gritty determination. This was a great day for Central Coast tennis.”

In the doubles final to follow the singles on Sunday, the Swiss team of Golubic and Amra Sadikovic will take on former USC teammates Kaitlyn Christian and Giuliana Olmos.

–S. Pratt

 

Saturday’s Seminal Singles Results

Sachia Vickery, U.S. (4), def. Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland (1), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3

Jamie Loeb, U.S. (8), def. Taylor Townsend, U.S. (5), 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8)

 

Sunday’s Schedule starting at 1 p.m.

Sachia Vickery, U.S. (4), vs. Jamie Loeb, U.S. (8)

Followed by Doubles Final:

Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland-Amra Sadikovic, Switzerland (1) vs. Kaitlyn Christian, U.S.-Giuliana Olmos, Mexico (4)

All Eyes on @CincyTennis As Main Draw Begins

Posted by Admin on August 14, 2017
Posted in: ATP, Cincinnati, Western & Southern Open. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Tennis Road Show Back to Cincinnati
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic

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It’s hard to believe it’s already late summer and the tennis road show moved to Ohio for a big build-up to the US Open. With so many engaging story lines on both sides of the sport, the Western & Southern Open will likely set the table for the end-of-year narrative.

While most of the tennis world was witnessing the breakout weekend in Toronto for Sascha Zverev, there were packed stands for qualifying matches in Ohio, including a girl who cried because she didn’t get an autograph from Magdalena Rybarikova. I thought, “It’ll get better.” It can always get better than getting snubbed by Rybarikova for an autograph.

This is the greatest tennis place in America. Not the greatest tennis space like Indian Wells, but the greatest tennis place. A place where Americans root for Americans and where they never say John Eisner. Media Director Pete Holtermann says it best when he tells me that there are 9 states within a 250 mile radius of the event. It’s the Midwestern Open.

38 matches on a single day like last Saturday is Slam-like, if not Slam-lite. It is nearly impossible to cover all of the courts and all of the matches at a big tourney footprint like the Western & Southern Open. You pick what looks good and you plan to stay in that area of the facility. It’s progressively bigger in my usual route of Newport, D.C., Cincinnati and the US Open.

In fact, it’s the perfect warm-up to the US Open. Who knew? Oh, wait.

Sunday’s 19 matches felt relaxing by comparison. Qualifying concluded with the 19 winners, 7 men and 12 women who jump into main draw play today. They were beaten to the first round by Ryan Harrison, Gilles Muller, John Isner and Vik Troicki, who kicked off their first round matches yesterday.

Harrison fought hard in a three set loss to Muller and he heard that American fanbase he says is so sorely needed. They cheered for him through the ups and the downs, but the American wilted in the thrid set tiebreak to advance Muller to the second round with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(3) win.

The fans were then served a less dramatic match but got to cheer on another fellow countryman when John Isner eased past Troicki, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Maximilian Marterer of Germany advanced in straight sets yesterday to his first career main draw of a 1000 level event. He was so excited he could barely contain his glee as he rode off on the golf cart he had to share with his opponent, Ramkumar Ramanathan. Ramanathan looked dazed as a man who had lost two consecutive tie breaks despite the fans overwhelming support on Court 4. Marterer rides into the first round against American Frances Tiafoe later today.

J.P. Smith is almost an American to these fans and it showed at the end of his match yesterday. Despite cheering for Christian Harrison throughout the match, their applause turned to the former University of Tennessee alum as he prepared to serve out the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win. Fans flocked to him for photos as he soaked up a memorable weekend on the outer courts.

Taylor Townsend, Western & Southern Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Taylor Townsend gave many plenty to smile about with her comeback win. After losing the first set in a tiebreak to Carina Witthoeft on Center Court, she stormed back to win out 7-5, 6-1. More adulation by the crowd was in store for Townsend as she was mobbed by well-wishers. Monica Puig is next in store for Townsend later this afternoon on Court 10.

Taylor Townsend Claims USTA French Open Wild Card

Posted by Admin on May 8, 2016
Posted in: French Open, USTA, USTA Pro Circuit. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Taylor Townsend Claims USTA French Open Wild Card

2014 citi Taylor Townsend

Taylor Townsend (Photo: Christopher Levy @tennis_shots)

Townsend joins Bjorn Fratangelo as 2016 USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge winners

Taylor Townsend, 20, of Atlanta, will make her third consecutive appearance in the main draw of the French Open after winning 2016 USTA Pro Circuit Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge. Townsend reached the final of the $75,000 Revolution Technologies Pro Tennis Classic in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., today, giving her at least 150 points in the wild card challenge. No other American woman can surpass her in the standings. Townsend will meet fellow American Jennifer Brady in tomorrow’s final in Indian Harbour Beach, which will be streamed live on www.procircuit.usta.com.

 

Townsend had impressive results in this year’s USTA Pro Circuit Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge, also winning the $50,000 Boyd Tinsley Clay Court Classic in Charlottesville, Va., and reaching the final of the $50,000 Hardee’s Pro Classic in Dothan, Ala.

 

USTA Player Development awards a French Open main-draw wild card to one American man and one American woman who earn the most ATP World Tour and WTA Tour ranking points in a series of USTA Pro Circuit clay-court events this spring. Ranking points from two out of the three men’s and women’s events are used and combined to calculate the point total and determine the French Open wild card recipient. If a player competes in more than two events, only his or her two best tournaments are counted in calculating the point total. Only players who have not earned direct acceptance into Roland Garros are eligible for the wild card.

 

Townsend, who was a world-ranked Top 100 player as recently as last year, is currently ranked No. 208 in the world. She also won the 2014 USTA Pro Circuit Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge and had an impressive run to the third round with a win over No. 20 seed Alize Cornet. Townsend also competed in the French Open last year. Townsend turned pro at the start of 2013 and, in her first WTA-level main-draw match, beat then-No. 57 Lucie Hradecka in the first round in Indian Wells. She followed that up with her impressive run to the third round of the 2014 French Open. She then went on to compete at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2014 and at the Australian Open and French Open in 2015. Also in 2015, she made her Fed Cup debut in the World Group II First Round in Argentina, where she played doubles. In addition to her USTA Pro Circuit singles title in Charlottesville this year, Townsend has won five USTA Pro Circuit doubles titles in 2016 with Asia Muhammad. Townsend is also a former junior standout, clinching the year-end ITF No. 1 junior ranking in 2012 to become the first American girl to hold that position since Gretchen Rush in 1982. She ascended to No. 1 by winning the Australian Open junior singles and doubles titles, as well as the junior doubles titles at the US Open and Wimbledon. Also in 2012, she led the U.S. to the Junior Fed Cup championship.

Bjorn Fratangelo Us Open Wild Card Playoffs 2011 TennisMaryland.com

Fratangelo

2011 French Open junior champion Bjorn Fratangelo, 22, of Pittsburgh, earned the men’s wild card. Fratangelo finished the wild card challenge with 115 points by winning the $50,000 St. Joseph’s/Candler Savannah Challenger in Savannah, Ga., and by reaching the semifinals of the $100,000 Joey Gratton Sarasota Openin Sarasota, Fla. Fratangelo will be making his French Open main-draw debut later this month with the wild card. He is ranked No. 115 in the world.

 

The USTA first used the wild card challenge format for its 2012 French Open wild cards, won byMelanie Oudin and Brian Baker. Oudin and Baker each advanced to the second round at that year’s French Open and subsequently broke into the Top 100. In 2013, Alex Kuznetsov andShelby Rogers earned the wild cards, with Rogers winning her first-ever Grand Slam singles match at the French Open. In 2014, young American Taylor Townsend and veteran Robby Ginepri received the wild cards, with Townsend becoming a top storyline by reaching the Roland Garros third round. Last year, teenagers Frances Tiafoe and Louisa Chirico secured the wild cards.

—USTA

A Stacked Field @CitiOpen With @Andy_Murray @Vika7 @GenieBouchard @KeiNishikori @KateMakarova1

Posted by Admin on June 25, 2015
Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

CITI OPEN® ANNOUNCES ONE OF ITS STRONGEST MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FIELDS IN ITS 47-YEAR HISTORY
Men’s field led by Murray, Nishikori, Cilic; Azarenka, Makarova, Bouchard headline women’s roster

Genie Bouchard (Photo: S. Fogleman)

WASHINGTON (June 25, 2015) — The Citi Open® Tennis Tournament boasts one of its strongest men’s and women’s fields in its 47-year history with the announcement of its world-class roster. Collectively, the international fields, representing 31 countries worldwide, include an impressive 10 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam finals, two former World No. 1s, and 234 ATP/WTA singles titles.

Kei Nishikori (Photo: Chris Levy @Tennis_Shots for TennisEastCoast.com)

Kei Nishikori (Photo: Chris Levy @Tennis_Shots for TennisEastCoast.com)

The impressive men’s list includes World No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray; World No. 5 and 2014 U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori; 2014 U.S. Open winner and World No. 9 Marin Cilic; and World No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov. World No. 14 and recent Queen’s Club finalist Kevin Anderson; World No. 16 Feliciano Lopez; top American and Washington finalist in 2009 and 2013 John Isner, currently World No. 17; and World No. 20 Richard Gasquet round up eight top 20 players ranked on the ATP World Tour committed to the tournament.

Others committed to the Citi Open include former Washington champions Lleyton Hewitt (2004), who will be granted a main draw singles wildcard, and Alexandr Dolgopolov (2012), along with former finalists Vasek Pospisil (2014), Marcos Baghdatis (2010), and Viktor Troicki (2008). Ones to watch as future stars of the game include American Jack Sock, Australians Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic, and German Alexander Zverev. Rounding out the Americans in the field include Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Tim Smyczek and Donald Young.

Ekaterina Makarova

Ekaterina Makarova


In the women’s field, former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka makes her Washington debut. Current World No. 8 Ekaterina Makarova, and World No. 12 and 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard have also committed to play.

The impressive women’s roster, with a rankings cut-off at a strong No. 71, also includes former top ten players Sara Errani (World No. 19); 2011 U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur (World No. 22); Grand Slam champion and defending Citi Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (World No. 27); top stars Sloane Stephens, Daniela Hantuchova, and Alize Cornet; and rising Swiss star Belinda Bencic (World No. 31). Other Americans in the field include Madison Brengle, Christina McHale, and fan favorite Taylor Townsend who has accepted a main draw singles wildcard.

Bob Bryan and Victoria Azarenka_French_Open_Trophy

In addition, Mike and Bob Bryan, World No. 1 men’s doubles champions, who have compiled a record 106 titles, have confirmed their participation. The full doubles field is expected the week of July 13. Players are subject to change due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

Citiopen Official Site

Courtside box seats, a variety of all-session and multi-session ticket packages, group packages, and single session/daily tickets are available online at http://www.citiopentennis.com. Courtside hospitality suites are also available by calling the tournament hotline at 202.721.9500.

The Citi Open, the Capital Tennis Tradition is scheduled for August 1-9, 2015, at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. It is one of only 13 elite ATP World Tour 500-level events worldwide and the only one held in the United States. The Citi Open Tournament also features a WTA International Tournament since 2012, which provides fans the opportunity to watch simultaneous competitions of both world-class men’s and women’s tennis throughout the nine-day event. It is one of only four U.S. tournaments that include both men’s and women’s fields.

The tournament’s owner and beneficiary, the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), provides underserved children in the D.C.-area with a safe environment to learn critical life skills both on and off the courts through academic and athletic enrichment.

For more information, visit the Citi Open Tournament on the Web at http://www.citiopentennis.com. The Citi Open Tournament is a Lagardère Unlimited production. Citi Open is a registered service mark of Citigroup Inc.

—S. Pegarido, Citi Open