Citi Open 2015: What to Watch For

The 2015 Citi Open gets underway August 1 at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Northwest DC, featuring one of the deepest fields since the tennis tournament began in 1969.

The annual tournament is one of just a handful of US events to include a men’s and women’s tournament concurrently.

World No. 3 Andy Murray, a two-time Grand Slam champion, headlines a field that also includes both of the finalists from the 2014 US Open: fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori and fellow Top 10 player Marin Cilic.

The Top 6 American men will also be in Washington preparing on the hard courts. Veterans John Isner and Sam Querrey are looking to capitalize on the North American hard court season after months in on the clay and grass of Europe. Up-and-coming star Jack Sock is looking to make a breakthrough against some of the top players on tour.

Although the women’s tournament in Washington has to compete with the higher-level Bank of the West Classic in California the same week, it was still able to attract many of the WTA’s brightest young stars.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is continuing to work her way back from injuries and is undoubtedly looking forward to getting back on her favorite surface. Youngsters Eugenie Bouchard from Canada, Americans Sloane Stephens and Christina McHale, and Britain’s Heather Watson have all made runs in major tournaments and will be searching for more consistency in the nation’s capital.

The all-time great doubles duo of Americans Mike and Bob Bryan will also take their 16 Grand Slam doubles titles to the court next week in an effort to win the tournament for the first time since winning back-to-back-to-back titles in DC from 2005-07.

This weekend will feature qualifying matches featuring a few local players before the upper echelon of players get going. Denis Kudla, a 22-year-old from Arlington who reached the final 16 at Wimbledon this year, and Ryan Shane, the 2015 NCAA singles champion from Falls Church, will both attempt to qualify for the men’s main draw in their home city.

The draws and schedules for the tournament will be announced at a ceremony Friday. You can find more information and ticket prices on the tournament’s website.

Josh Rosenblat