The Mubadala DC Open is back and bigger than ever in 2026. The prestigious Washington Open tennis tournament is currently underway at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C., drawing the biggest names in men’s and women’s tennis to the American capital for one of the most anticipated hard-court events of the summer.
Known by fans as the Citi Open tennis or simply the DC Open, the tournament runs from July 27 to August 2, 2026, and serves as a key warm-up event on the road to the US Open. With defending champion Alex de Minaur already making his title defence and a packed star-studded field, the Washington open tennis live action has not disappointed so far.
Background: What Is the DC Open 2026?
The 2026 Washington Open, branded as the Mubadala DC Open for sponsorship reasons, is a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is the 57th edition of the Washington Open for the men and the 14th edition for the women.
The hard-court tournament was established in 1969 by Arthur Ashe alongside Donald Dell and John A. Harris, and takes place at the FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C. The venue sits inside Rock Creek Park and holds up to 7,500 fans in its main stadium.
The DC Open tennis is the only combined 500-level event on the ATP and WTA tours in the world. That makes it genuinely unique — fans get to watch the best men’s and women’s players compete at the same venue, in the same week, at the same level of prestige.
DC Open Tennis Schedule 2026
The full DC Open tennis schedule for the 2026 edition is as follows:
- Qualifying Rounds: Saturday–Sunday, July 25–26
- First Round (Main Draw): Monday–Tuesday, July 27–28
- Second Round: Wednesday–Thursday, July 29–30
- Quarterfinals: Friday, August 1
- Semifinals: Saturday, August 2
- Doubles Final: Sunday, August 2 (12:00 p.m. ET)
- Singles Final: Sunday, August 2 (not before 5:00 p.m. ET)
The prize money for the Mubadala DC Open is US $2,469,450. The singles winner takes home $461,835 and 500 ranking points, while the finalist earns $248,480 and 330 points.
Who Will Play in DC Open 2026? Citi Open Players
The DC Open 2026 has assembled one of the strongest player fields in recent memory. On the men’s side, the Mubadala DC Open features defending champion Alex de Minaur along with American hopefuls Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, plus Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Tommy Paul, and NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar.
Other notable Citi Open players in the men’s draw include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Lorenzo Musetti, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and teenage sensation Cruz Hewitt, son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt.
The men’s draw was reduced from 48 players to 32 players this year, making every match higher stakes and harder to win.
On the women’s side, the Washington open tennis women’s draw includes Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Diana Shnaider, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Leylah Fernandez, and Venus Williams, who received a wildcard entry.
Washington Open Tennis Live Results Latest Updates
De Minaur Beats Tsitsipas, Faces Young Hewitt
Defending champion Alex de Minaur wasted no time announcing his presence at the Washington Open tennis. The Australian overcame his 1-12 ATP Head2Head deficit against Stefanos Tsitsipas, defeating the Greek in three sets to set up a second-round showdown with 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt. The match scoreline was 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 a performance that showed de Minaur’s well-known fighting spirit on hard courts.
Cruz Hewitt, son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, defeated Marcos Giron 6–3, 6–4 in the first round to set up a thrilling all-Australian Round of 16 clash. Cruz Hewitt became the youngest player to win a main-draw match at the tournament since Kei Nishikori in 2007. That is a remarkable feat for a 17-year-old ranked 612th in the world.
De Minaur ultimately came through and moved into the Washington quarterfinals, where he faces home hope Brandon Nakashima.
Fritz, Shelton, and Musetti Advance
Taylor Fritz defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6–3, 6–4, Lorenzo Musetti beat Aleksandar Vukic 6–3, 5–7, 6–3, and Rafael Jodar knocked out 2015 champion Kei Nishikori 6–3, 6–2.
In Friday’s DC Open tennis schedule, second seed Ben Shelton faces Alejandro Tabilo, while third seed Taylor Fritz takes on Alex Michelsen in an all-American quarterfinal clash. The FitzGerald Tennis Center crowd is expected to be electric for both matches.
Women’s Results at the Washington Open
On the women’s side, Liudmila Samsonova defeated Wang Xinyu 6–2, 6–2, Naomi Osaka beat Ashlyn Krueger 6–3 before Krueger retired, and Alexandra Eala caused a surprise by defeating seventh seed Leylah Fernandez 6–2, 7–6(1). Elisabetta Cocciaretto also delivered an upset, knocking out eighth seed Emma Navarro 6–3, 4–6, 6–3.
De Minaur: The Man to Beat at the Washington Open
Alex de Minaur enters the Mubadala DC Open 2026 as the undisputed favourite. In 2025, he won the Washington Open singles title by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5–7, 6–1, 7–6(7–3), famously saving three championship points along the way to claim his tenth ATP Tour singles title.
His form coming into this year’s DC Open 2026 has been exceptional. Earlier in 2026, de Minaur won the Rotterdam Open title, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6–3, 6–2 in the final his 11th ATP Tour title overall. He is playing with confidence and consistency, and his aggressive baseline game is perfectly suited to the hard courts of Washington.
Impact: Why the Washington Open Matters
The Washington open tennis event carries enormous significance in the tennis calendar. It is part of the US Open Series, meaning results here directly affect player momentum and rankings heading into the year’s final Grand Slam. The tournament has sold out every session since 2019, and more than 75 percent of seats for the 2026 edition were already claimed before single-session sales even opened.
The Citi Open tennis also holds deep cultural importance. The Mubadala DC Open’s rich history is rooted in a vision for equality and accessibility. In 1968, American sports icon Arthur Ashe, after becoming the first African-American male to win a major tennis championship, envisioned a tournament in Washington, D.C., that would be open to everyone. That spirit still lives in the event today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is the Washington Open being played?
The Washington Open tennis tournament takes place at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C. The venue features 15 hard courts, with the main stadium capable of holding up to 7,500 tennis fans. The location sits within Rock Creek Park, one of Washington’s most beloved public green spaces. Many people also refer to the venue simply as the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. The atmosphere there is widely regarded as one of the most intimate and passionate on the entire ATP and WTA tour calendar. It is a venue that genuinely makes players and fans feel connected in a way that larger arenas sometimes cannot replicate.
Who will play in DC Open 2026?
The DC Open 2026 features stars including defending men’s champion Alex de Minaur, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Tommy Paul, and NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar. On the women’s side, the field includes Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Diana Shnaider, Madison Keys, and Venus Williams, who received a wildcard. Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of Lleyton Hewitt, has also made headlines by winning his first career ATP main draw match at this very tournament. The depth of this player field reflects just how important the Mubadala DC Open has become as a stop on the professional circuit, attracting top-ranked stars alongside rising talent from the next generation.
Why is the DC Open called Mubadala?
Following a five-year title sponsorship agreement with Mubadala Investment Company, the event is now called the Mubadala DC Open the latest in a series of name changes for the long-running competition. Mubadala became the new title sponsor as of 2023, replacing Citi as the primary naming rights partner. Mubadala Investment Company is a prominent Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investment firm, and its involvement in the tournament reflects the growing global interest in professional tennis and its expanding commercial landscape. The full official name is the Mubadala Citi DC Open, as Citigroup remains a co-sponsor. Before these branding changes, the event was widely known as simply the Citi Open or the Washington Open, and many fans still use all three names interchangeably today.
Conclusion
The Mubadala DC Open 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions in the tournament’s long history. Defending champion Alex de Minaur is in dominant form, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz are pushing hard for a home winner, and young talent like Cruz Hewitt and Rafael Jodar are making headlines that no one predicted. On the women’s side, upsets are already flying with major seeds falling early.
The Washington open tennis live action continues through August 2, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals still to come. Whether you’re watching for the hard-court drama, the star power of the Citi Open players, or the unique combined ATP-WTA format that makes this event one of a kind, the DC Open tennis schedule still has plenty of unmissable tennis left to deliver. Keep watching this one is far from over.
