Amidst the Paris Olympics and all of the incredible performances happening across the Atlantic, it can be easy to overlook a premier athletic event taking place right here in Washington, D.C.— the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
Hosted at the FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, the Citi DC Open is the only combined men’s and women’s 500-level tennis tournament in the world.
The Mubadala Citi D.C. Open, colloquially known as “Washington’s Summer Tennis Tradition,” has a rich history beginning in the 1960s. After becoming the first Black man to win the U.S. Open in 1968, Arthur Ashe wanted the professional tennis world to reflect the shifting racial dynamic in the United States. As a Virginia native, Ashe hoped to bring a major tournament closer to his home, and more importantly, to an integrated location where Black individuals could attend the event.
The tournament was first played in 1969 and Ashe won in 1973, just a year after he co-founded the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) joined in 2011, with Nadia Petrova being the inaugural champion.
The stars were out for this year’s event, with top-ranked players like local DMV favorite Frances Tiafoe, Andrey Rublev and Ben Shelton all vying for the ATP title. On the WTA side, participants include Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Dolehide and Paula Badosa.
The Washington Open is particularly special for Tiafoe, who was born and raised in Hyattsville, Maryland. He has yet to win his hometown tournament in two appearances, but this year, he reached the semifinal for the first time. In a conversation with journalist Ben Raby, Tiafoe attributed his win to the D.C. home-court advantage that propelled him in a grueling quarterfinal match against Top-10 ranked Andrey Rublev.
“I can really feel the love that they have for me here right now,” said Tiafoe.
Ultimately, Sebastian Korda won this year’s Washington Open 32 years after his father, Petr, raised the same trophy. The WTA champion was Paula Badosa, who secured her first singles title of the year.
Not only is the Mubadala Citi DC Open a convenient opportunity to witness high-level tennis in the D.C. area, but the tournament is also charitable to the local youth. This year, the Washington Open benefits the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF). According to its website, the foundation’s mission is to provide both academic support and tennis instruction to “empower [children] to achieve their highest potential by developing meaningful values and critical skills that lead them to life-long success.”
DeLeón Tequila is the official tequila partner of this event. And thanks to this partnership, the tournament has offered guests a chance to relax in a specially catered tequila lounge. Kelsey Nicole Nelson, host and founder of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk radio show/podcast was invited to join DeLeón’s Press Tour for an inside look at the lounge and what fans would be treated to.
In partnership with local business Taco Bamba, DeLeón crafted an elevated taco and tequila-tasting experience for tennis fans enjoying the event. Complete with an in-house DJ, a ping-pong table, photo booths and giveaways, the DeLeón Tequila Lounge created the perfect place to enjoy some excellent food and drinks without missing any action on the court.
This weekend, Korda and Badosa added their names to an iconic list of Mubadala Citi D.C. Open winners. Who will join this elite company next year? Watch it unfold from the bleachers of Rock Creek Park and be a part of local tennis history.
