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The Mubadala Citi DC Open, otherwise known as the Washington Open, is a pro tennis tournament that takes place each year in Washington, DC.
Many people come from all over the world to watch this tournament where many political big names are bound to be in attendance due to its location in the US capitol.
Below, we’ll look into the details about this tournament so you can be prepared if you are going to be a spectator in the DC area for this tennis event.
About the Mubadala Citi DC Open
The Mubadala Citi DC Open tournament used to be called the Legg Mason Tennis Classic and then the Citi Open. Now, Mubadala is the new sponsor as of 2023.
The event itself was founded in 1969, so while it may not be one of the oldest professional tennis tournaments, it’s still a big event that tennis fans look forward to seeing each year.
The DC Open is part of the US Open series of tournaments that lead up to the US Open, the year’s final grand slam event.
Where is the DC Open?
The DC Open Tournament takes place in the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C.
The tennis club is the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in a neighborhood called Rock Creek Park. Many people, and the tournament website, also refer to the event’s location as the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center.
When is the DC Open?
The tournament typically takes place in the summer, from late July through early August. It is usually one week before the Canadian Open.
The 2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open tournament took place from July 27 – August 4.
Who are the Current DC Open Champions?
The current champions of the DC Open for 2024 are the following players:
- Men’s Singles: Sebastian Korda (USA)
- Men’s Doubles: Nathaniel Lammons & Jackson Withrow (USA)
- Women’s Singles: Paula Badosa (Spain)
- Women’s Doubles: Asia Muhammad & Taylor Townsend (USA)
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What Surface is the DC Open Played On?
This tournament is played on hard courts.
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center has 15 hard courts made of acrylic that holds up very well to outdoor weather conditions. They also have clay courts that are not used for the tournament.
DC Open Prize Money & Ranking Points
The total ATP prize money for the 2024 DC Open was $2.1 million. The total WTA prize money for 2024 was $922,573.
- The men’s singles winner received $368,585, while the runner-up received $196,580.
- The men’s doubles winners received $129,010, while the runners-up received $68,800.
- The women’s singles winner received $142,000, while the runner-up received $87,655.
- The women’s doubles winners received $47,390, and the runners-up received $28,720.
One reason for the disparity is that this is considered a bigger tournament for the ATP tour than the WTA.
Here are the ranking points by round for the 2024 DC Open.
Men’s ATP Points | Women’s WTA Points | |
---|---|---|
Champion | 500 | 500 |
Finals | 330 | 325 |
Semifinals | 200 | 195 |
Quarterfinals | 100 | 108 |
Rd. of 16 | 50 singles | 0 doubles | 60 singles | 1 doubles |
Rd. of 32 | 25 singles | 0 doubles | 1 singles | 0 doubles |
How to Get Tickets to the Mubadala Citi DC Open
You can buy all different types of ticket options through the DC Open website. This includes single session tickets, full-day pass tickets, and premium seating options.
You can also buy tickets through Ticketmaster.
How Do I See the Big Matches?
Because this isn’t one of the bigger tournaments of the year, especially for the women, you won’t often find some of the biggest names in the draw. However, you will still see plenty of top 10 and 20 players in the men’s draw.
You can purchase reserved seats at the main stadium, which seats 7500 people. This stadium is called the Fitzgerald Tennis Center. You will want to get tickets to the last few days of the event when the finals are played.
Where to Stay in Washington D.C. for the DC Open
There are many different hotel options in the D.C. area, but you are going to want to stay as close to Rock Creek Park to avoid some of the traffic getting to and from the stadium.
You can also avoid the hotel experience and rent through Airbnb or VRBO. This will allow you to stay in an apartment, with a family renting out a room, a guest house, or an entire house.
High-End Hotel Options
These hotels are 4-5 star rated hotels all within a three-mile radius of the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center.
Budget-Friendly Hotel Options
If you want to save a little bit of money, you can go with a 2-3 star hotel. Here are some great options in the D.C. area.
- The Generator Hotel Dupont Circle
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring
- DoubleTree by Hilton Silver Spring DC North
These hotels are also two to three miles away from the tennis center.
Search for flights, hotels, and car rentals in Washington D.C. here:
Getting Around Washington D.C.
Considering that all of the hotels are two to three miles away, the best way to get from your hotel to the event is by rental car, taxi cab, Uber, or Lyft.
You can also travel by a city bus which is operated by Metro D.C. The hotels are near the Silver Springs bus station.
How to Make Your DC Open Experience Great
The main stadium holds 7500 people and has 31 air-conditioned theater-style boxed seating. It’s a cozy stadium where there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house.
The grounds around the tennis center are ripe with special events. You can see various food trucks, tailgating, specific junior events for kids, and even a special ladies’ day.
When to Arrive at the Tournament
You definitely want to arrive early to experience everything the event has to offer. There is parking onsite, so if you have a car it’s pretty easy to park for a fee.
Even if you have a reserved ticket, the outer court seating is first come first serve, so you’ll want to grab your seat early if there is a specific match you’d like to see.
What to Bring with You
You are not allowed to bring in any outside food or drink, that includes coolers or picnic baskets.
There is a huge variety of food and drink selections inside, so this shouldn’t be a problem. Since this event takes place in the summer, make sure you bring sunscreen, a hat, and clothing you’ll be comfortable in with the scorching heat of the D.C. hot season.
What to Expect Inside
Expect lots of places to choose from to buy food and drink at the event. You can also purchase different tennis gear and souvenirs highlighting the best players.
The grounds are pretty expansive as well, so make sure you wear some comfortable shoes so you can walk around the different courts.
How to Watch the DC Open Tournament on TV
The early rounds of the DC Open aren’t televised on any of the major networks, but you can watch some of the action on the Tennis Channel. You can also subscribe to the Tennis Channel Plus and stream the event live on any of your compatible devices.
The semifinals and finals for the men are typically on ESPN or ESPN2.