Tennis News

Nadal Set For Washington Debut; When Is The Draw & More

As Washington, D.C. gets set for another edition of the Citi Open, all eyes will be on legendary lefty Rafael Nadal, who will make his tournament debut at the ATP 500 event.

Nadal, who is an 88-time tour-level champion, will try to add to his trophy count in the United States’ capital. The Spaniard will have to be at the top of his game with a loaded field.

Players to watch at the hard-court tournament include #NextGenATP stars Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sebastian Korda and Jannik Sinner, Australians Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur, 2021 breakthrough player Aslan Karatsev and former top five stalwarts Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic.

Here’s all you need to know about Washington: when is the draw, what is the schedule, where to watch, who has won, how to buy tickets and more.

Established: 1969

Tournament Dates: 2-8 August 2021

Tournament Director: Carlos Silva

Draw Ceremony: Friday, 30 July at time TBC

Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Qualifying: Saturday, 31 July – Sunday, 1 August
* Main draw: Play Monday-Friday begins at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m.
* Doubles final: Sunday, 8 August at 12 p.m.
* Singles final: Sunday, 8 August at 5 p.m.

How To Watch
TV Schedule

Venue: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center

Prize Money: $1,895,290

Tickets On Sale: Buy Now

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Andre Agassi (5)
Most Titles, Doubles: Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan and Marty Riessen (4)
Oldest Champion: Ken Rosewall, 36, in 1971
Youngest Champion: Andy Roddick, 18, in 2001
Lowest-Ranked Champion (since 1969): No. 117 David Nalbandian in 2010
Most Match Wins: Andre Agassi (44)
Last Home Champion: Andy Roddick in 2007

2019 Finals
Singles: Nick Kyrgios (AUS) d [3] Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4)   Read & Watch
Doubles: [3] Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus d Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau 3-6, 6-3, 10-2  Read More

Social
Facebook: @citiopen
Twitter: @citiopen
Instagram: @citiopen

Did You Know?
Superstars who have won the Citi Open include former World No. 1s Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt.

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After 3+ Hours, Martinez Magic Too Much For Bautista Agut In Kitzbühel

It took more than three hours, but Pedro Martinez was able to secure the biggest win of his career by FedEx ATP Ranking on Wednesday in Kitzbühel.

The 24-year-old Spaniard outlasted countryman Roberto Bautista Agut, the second seed, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-5 after three hours and six minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the Generali Open. It is his first trip to the last eight of an ATP Tour event this season.

“It was a really good battle from the start until the end. We both fought almost every point. I respect him so much,” Martinez said in his on-court interview. “What he’s done on the Tour in past years is amazing. We are from the same region in Spain. Today it’s unbelievable to play this match against him on this nice court.”

Martinez, who defeated World No. 17 Gael Monfils just weeks ago at Wimbledon, broke World No. 16 Bautista Agut’s serve five times and won 43 per cent of his return points. The two-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist will next play Slovakian qualifier Jozef Kovalik, who eliminated Czech lefty Jiri Vesely 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 after one hour and 58 minutes.

Bautista Agut was not the only seeded Spaniard who lost, as Italian Gianluca Mager upset fourth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(3), 1-6, 7-5 after two hours and 22 minutes. Third seed Filip Krajinovic maintained his title hopes by clawing past Spanish lucky loser Carlos Taberner 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 after two hours and four minutes.

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Djokovic/Stojanovic Begin Mixed Doubles Campaign In Tokyo

Serbians Novak Djokovic and Nina Stojanovic got their mixed doubles campaign underway on Wednesday in Tokyo with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Luisa Stefani.

This is the first time World No. 1 Djokovic, who continues his quest for a historic Golden Grand Slam in the singles this week, has played mixed doubles at the Olympics.

View Order Of Play | View 2020 Olympics Results | View Mixed Doubles Draw

The Serbian pair did not face a break point on their way to victory and will next face Kevin Krawietz and Laura Siegemund after the Germans beat American team Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Rajeev Ram 6-4, 5-7, 10-8.

Australians Ashleigh Barty and John Peers also produced a dominant display to defeat Argentine duo Nadia Podoroska and Horacio Zeballos 6-1, 7-6(3) and reach the quarter-finals.

Stefanos Tsitsipas got over his singles disappointment by teaming with Maria Sakkari to beat Canadian tandem Gabriela Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4. Tsitsipas and Sakkari play Barty and Peers in the last eight.

There was success for the ROC on Wednesday. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev moved through with a 5-7, 6-4, 11-9 victory against Croatian pair Darija Jurak and Ivan Dodig, while Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev raced past French duo Kristina Mladenovic and Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-2.

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ATP Expands Education Partner Portfolio

The ATP has partnered with three internationally acclaimed institutions to offer ATP members access to world-class education opportunities, in line with a commitment to promoting welfare and development across its membership.

The trio of new strategic partners – MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business, the University of Florida and the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) Academy – will offer access to subsidised courses for ATP players, tournaments, agents, alumni and coaches. Courses will be available mostly online and cover various qualification levels, subject areas and languages to reflect the breadth of requirements across the membership.

MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business, which ranks among the Top 10 globally in the Financial Times’ 2021 Online MBA Ranking for its i-Flex EMBA, will offer subsidised short courses and post-graduate degrees. Delivered in partnership with several globally renowned brands, the i-Flex EMBA is a two-year Executive MBA aimed at professionals who want to combine international studies with work commitments, with a focus on digital transformation and featuring lectures by top managers leading digital transformation in their companies.

The University of Florida, ranked within the Top 10 of U.S. public universities, will offer members the chance to enroll in any of the four online master’s programmes and graduate certificate programmes offered through its renowned College of Health & Human Performance (UFHHP). Graduate programmes include Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, Sport Management, Health Education and Behavior, Tourism and Hospitality Management, as well as a graduate certificate in Sport Event Management.

In addition, the ICL Academy, a one-of-a-kind online private school for students from grades 7-12, will allow ATP members to take flexible courses for credit and graduate with an American High School diploma, including the option for AP and IB courses, on a full-time or course-by-course basis. Through its Impact Learning Model, ICL Academy delivers world-class academics, award-winning service leadership, and world champion partners who serve as master teachers from across the sports, venture capital, entertainment and technology sectors, with Novak Djokovic, Monica Seles, Dr. Jim Loehr, Tommy Haas, Vasek Pospisil and the Bryan Brothers supporting ICL tennis initiatives.

Stephen Farrow, ATP VP Member Services, said: “Our vision is for all ATP members to have professional opportunities open to them beyond their time in tennis. Key to that is offering access to quality education that can work around life on Tour and cater to the different interests and needs of our member groups. Partnering with three world-class institutions is an exciting step for us in that process.”

John Isner, ATP player and University of Georgia graduate, said: “These new education initiatives are very important. As tennis players, we have a shelf life. We can’t play this sport and earn money forever. Being able to lean on a top-notch education after your tennis career is over will set a lot of us up very well in the future.”

The exciting new partnerships build on the ATP’s existing education portfolio which includes Coursera, University of Palermo and Indiana University East, offering members a broad range of courses in English and Spanish. The ATP has also established a number of partnerships and internal initiatives across the mental health space in recent years, in an ongoing bid to support the broader welfare of members beyond the court.

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Tokyo Olympics: Daniil Medvedev & Paula Badosa struggle in heat

Daniil Medvedev struggles to breathe in the Tokyo heat on Wednesday, asking the umpire who would be responsible if he died during his Olympic tennis match.

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Daniell/Venus Upset Cabal/Farah In Tokyo

New Zealand pair Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus sprung a surprise on Wednesday at the Tokyo Olympics as they upset third-seeded Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 to reach the semi-finals.

Daniell and Venus are competing together for the first time since 2016 this week. They won 82 per cent (36/44) of their first-service points in the match to advance in one hour and 36 minutes against Cabal and Farah, who have claimed two tour-level titles this season at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

View Order Of Play | View 2020 Olympics Results | View Men’s Doubles Draw 

The New Zealanders will next face Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig after the Croatians battled back to overcome British team Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-7. Cilic and Dodig rallied from a set and a break down to book their spot in the last four.

Murray was aiming to win a fourth Olympic medal this week, having claimed gold in the 2012 and 2016 singles event along with a silver in the 2012 mixed doubles (w/Robson).

Top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic also advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japanese pair Ben McLachlan and Kei Nishikori. The Croatians have won eight tour-level titles this year, including three ATP Masters 1000s and Wimbledon. They will next meet Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren after the Americans downed Germans Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4).

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Medvedev Battles Past Fognini In Tokyo To Reach QF

Second seed Daniil Medvedev overcame both the heat and Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday at the Tokyo Olympics as he moved into the quarter-finals.

The 25-year-old required two medical timeouts and a visit from the trainer due to the intense humidity before he rallied to defeat Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 26 minutes.

View Order Of Play | View 2020 Olympics Results | View Draw

The ROC star, who is making his Olympics debut this week, saved seven of the eight break points he faced in the match, winning 70 per cent (30/43) of his first-service points. Medvedev struck the ball with great depth as he raised his level in the crucial moments in the final set, converting both break points he had to advance.

The World No. 2 will next face Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta after the sixth seed moved past Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 7-6(7), 6-3.

Top seed Novak Djokovic eased past Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-1 as the Serbian continued his bid to claim a historic Golden Grand Slam. The World No. 1 is aiming to become the first male player to win all four majors and a gold medal in a season, with WTA legend Stefanie Graf the only player to have completed this achievement back in 1988.

The 34-year-old captured the first three Grand Slam titles of the year to move level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 majors. Djokovic produced a strong returning display on Wednesday, winning 51 per cent of points (22/43) on Davidovich Fokina’s first serve to advance in 84 minutes.

Djokovic will meet Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the last eight after the home favourite defeated Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 7-6(9), 6-0.

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas could not follow in the footsteps of Medvedev and Djokovic and reach the quarter-finals as the World No. 4 was upset by Frenchman Ugo Humbert. The 14th seed battled back to record a career-best win, defeating the third seed 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

The 23-year-old, who lifted the NOVENTI OPEN title in June, fired 22 winners, taking his fourth match point to advance. Humbert will next play the ROC’s Karen Khachanov after the 25-year-old downed Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 in two hours and one minute to join countryman Medvedev in the last eight.

Alexander Zverev was also in action as the German defeated Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 7-6(5) in one hour and 39 minutes. The fourth seed, who hit 11 aces, failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set but played aggressively in the tie-break to move through. Zverev next faces Jeremy Chardy after the Frenchman beat Brit Liam Broady 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1.

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Tokyo Olympics tennis: Andy Murray & Joe Salisbury out of men's doubles

Andy Murray’s bid for an Olympic gold at a third successive Games ends as he and Joe Salisbury lose in the men’s doubles quarter-finals in Tokyo.

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Kyrgios Closes Out Atlanta Night Session With A Bang

Former champion Nick Kyrgios made a successful return to the Truist Atlanta Open on Tuesday night after fighting past Kevin Anderson 7-6(4), 6-3 to move into the second round.

Kyrgios didn’t face a break point as he aced his way through a tense meeting between two big servers. He won 86 per cent (36/42) of points behind his first serve, and fired 15 aces en route to victory. The Aussie will next face third seed Cameron Norrie, who arrives in Atlanta after claiming his first ATP Tour title in Los Cabos.

“Kevin is no easy opponent, he’s a finalist at Grand Slams and he knows how to win matches,” Kyrgios said in an on-court interview. “His serve is one of the best in the world, so I knew today was going to be incredibly tough. I haven’t played too many matches, but I was serving well and I just love playing here in Atlanta.”  

The only break of serve came late in the match, as Kyrgios pounced on a loose Anderson service game at 4-4. The South African gave Kyrgios too many looks at second serves, and the 2016 champion gleefully teed off to claim the decisive break.  

At match point, Kyrgios walked over to a fan in the crowd and, after a brief conversation, returned to the baseline. He fired a big first serve out wide that went unreturned, sealing the victory after an hour and 23 minutes.

“It’s a routine that I’ve been doing for the last few years, just trying to get the fans involved,” Kyrgios explained. “I saw that he had an ‘NK Nation’ hat on, and I said, ‘Where do you want me to serve?’ He just said, ‘Just go big, wide.’ So there you go.”

Brandon Nakashima also claimed a late win on Tuesday, needing two hours 25 minutes to takedown local wild card Trent Bryde 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4. The 19-year-old American, who posted his first tour-level final appearance in Los Cabos, cruised through the opening set but found himself having to fight back as the University of Georgia student raised his level. 

Nakashima held his nerve against Bryde as well as the vocal crowd – including the university’s band – were firmly supporting the home favourite. The 19-year-old fired 10 aces and broke serve four times to set up a second-round meeting with top seed Milos Raonic. 

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Five-Time Champ Isner Rides 36-Ace Barrage To Win In Atlanta

Five-time Truist Atlanta Open champion John Isner made a good start towards a sixth trophy at the ATP 250 on Tuesday behind a 36-ace barrage. The 36-year-old American eliminated countryman J.J. Wolf 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 to reach the second round after two hours and eight minutes.

“I was very happy with how I played today. J.J. is an incredibly tough player. He’s actually had a lot of bad luck with injuries recently,” Isner said in an on-court interview. “He was on his way up, got derailed a little bit. But it’s only a matter of time until he gets back to where he belongs, and that’s a very high ranking in my opinion.”

Wolf, who is playing just his second tournament of the season, returned impressively in the second-set tie-break to force Isner into a deciding set. But the sixth seed won 81 per cent of his service points and saved the only break point he faced in the match to set a clash against countryman Jack Sock or Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis.

Another seeded American, fifth seed Taylor Fritz, beat Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy 6-3, 6-4. Fritz saved the only break point he faced and converted his two opportunities to earn a showdown against countryman Steve Johnson, who defeated Aussie Alexei Popyrin on Monday.

Second seed Jannik Sinner now knows he will play Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell, who rallied past home favourite Denis Kudla 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The World No. 132 hit the shot of the day in the third set of his match, when he struck a tweener past his 28-year-old opponent, who was at the net.

In other action, seventh seed Benoit Paire battled past Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama 7-5, 6-72), 6-4. The Frenchman will next play Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, who clawed past American Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(3), 7-5.

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