WASHINGTON, June 11, 2022 (by Michael Dickens)
This summer’s Citi Open has eight new additions to its initial player field, which now includes three Grand Slam champions, two Citi Open champions and five Top 20 players.
A week after revealing that reigning US Open women’s champion Emma Raducanu had become the first to commit to the new WTA 250 event, which will take place July 30-August 7 at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in northwest Washington, three additional women and five men have been added to the event’s list of committed players.
Joining Raducanu in the women’s field are: 2015 Citi Open champion and 2017 US Open titlist Sloane Stephens; 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and World No. 15 and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez. Thus, the women’s tournament returns after a three-year absence with both 19-year-old teens, Raducanu and Fernandez, who captured the hearts and attention of everyone leading up to their US Open championship match.
The first five men to commit include: 2019 champion Nick Kyrgios; top-ranked American and 2022 Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz; World No. 8 Andrey Rublev; World No. 18 Reilly Opelka and Hyattsville, Md. native Frances Tiafoe, who is currently ranked 27th.
Exciting news: More of the world’s best players are heading to DC to compete at the #CitiOpen this summer. 🎾✈️
3 #GrandSlam champions. 2 #CitiOpen champions. Five top 20 players. And we’re just getting started. 🎉
Purchase full tournament package: https://t.co/WMAn1wsuFH pic.twitter.com/3Jfna2J6FV
— Citi Open (@CitiOpen) June 10, 2022
“We are thrilled to welcome more Grand Slam champions, two past Citi Open champions and several fan favorites back to Washington this summer,” said Mark Ein, Citi Open Chairman in a statement. The tournament is typically one that many top-flight players enter in the weeks leading up to the US Open. “Our tournament historically draws a deep field of the world’s best players, which create exhilarating matches throughout the week.
“We are just two months out from a memorable week of world-class tennis in the nation’s capital and are excited to share these new player field additions with our fans. We look forward to announcing more players and tournament updates in the coming weeks.”
Kyrgios, the men’s 2019 champion, is a two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist and six-time ATP champion. This season, the 27-year-old Australian reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells (hardcourt) and semifinals in Houston (clay) and Stuttgart (grass). He also captured the 2022 Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Two #CitiOpen champions return this summer 😍@NickKyrgios x @SloaneStephens pic.twitter.com/MpMYZgaghy
— Citi Open (@CitiOpen) June 10, 2022
Meanwhile, Stephens, the women’s 2015 champion, won her only Grand Slam title at the 2017 US Open. She’s a seven-time WTA Tour title winner. This season, the 29-year-old American won the tournament in Guadalajara and reached the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros, where she was also a finalist in 2018.
The Citi Open is one of only five combined ATP/WTA tournaments in the country, featuring professional competition from both men and women. Citi Open’s ATP 500 event will showcase a 48-player singles draw and 16 doubles teams. It’s revived WTA 250 event will celebrate its 10th edition this summer with a player field that includes 32 singles competitors and 16 doubles teams.
The @WTA’s best are coming to #WashingtonDC to compete at the 2022 #CitiOpen. 👇
⁰2021 US Open Champion @EmmaRaducanu
2021 US Open Finalist @leylahfernandez
2020 Australian Open Champion @SofiaKenin pic.twitter.com/6y6TwZSZ3W— Citi Open (@CitiOpen) June 10, 2022
Citi Open noteworthy
Last year’s Citi Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in northwest Washington was the most successful in the event’s history, which dates back to 1969. Attendance records were shattered and all sessions sold out throughout the week. Full 2022 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.
