WASHINGTON, June 19, 2019 (by Michael Dickens)
This summer’s Citi Open will feature four Top-10 men’s players plus 2017 U.S. Open women’s champion Sloane Stephens. Fans who flock to the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Northwest Washington, D.C. from July 29 to August 4 will be treated to a number of big names, including World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was a semifinalist in last year’s event, plus No. 7 Kei Nishikori, No. 8 Kevin Anderson and No. 9 Karen Khachanov. In addition to Stephens, the women’s field includes No. 13 Belinda Bencic, No. 17 Madison Keys, No. 24 Bianca Andreescu and No. 30 Sofia Kenin.
The Citi Open kicks off the summer’s North American hard court circuit and takes place a month before the U.S. Open. The ATP 500 event features a singles draw of 48 players while the WTA International event will include a singles field of 32 players. It will be televised throughout the United States on Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus.
“The talent level of the player lineup for this summer’s Citi Open is incredible,” said Mark Ein, CEO of MDE Tennis, which is running the combined event. “This is one of the most exciting and deepest player fields we have ever seen here in Washington. From the first to the last match, the stands will be buzzing as fans will get to see the biggest talents and personalities in the sport. Every session across all our match courts will be packed with compelling match-ups of must-see tennis.”
Tournament organizers released the men’s and women’s fields earlier this week. Surprisingly, neither defending men’s champion Alexander Zverev, currently ranked No. 5, nor defending women’s champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has been injured much of the year, have committed to the Citi Open. However, the men’s field also includes Top 20 players John Isner, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic and Gaël Monfils, plus Canadian trio Milos Raonic, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov – all currently ranked in the Top 25 – and local American favorites Frances Tiafoe (from Hyattsville, Md.) and Denis Kudla (from Arlington, Va.). Toss in Nick Kyrgios, and Benoit Paire – and the Bryan Brothers playing doubles – and there’s something to whet everyone’s Tennis appetite.
To see a complete entry list: https://www.citiopentennis.com/players/?intloc=headernav
The Citi Open, which dates back to a men’s-only event in 1969, is one of five tournaments in the United States that features both ATP and WTA draws together at the same location.
