ATP Washington 500: Citiopen 2014

[Correspondent Kiu]

USA
JUL 28 - AUG 03

TOURNAMENT INFO:
Surface: Hard
Total Prize $ 1,399,700
Field: SGL 48 DBL 16

Defending Champion is Juan Martin del Potro who is injured and not playing, other finalist is John Isner.

Player field here:
http://www.citiopentennis.com/atp_player_field_copy/?intloc=headernavsub
Top 4 seeds:
1) Tomas Berdych (CZE)
2) Milos Raonic (CAN)
3) John Isner (USA)
4) Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

Tennis Frontier will provide full coverage of this event. I will have extensive coverage of this event since we were granted Media credentials to cover this event LIVE!
To read more about our early thoughts, follow this link:
http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2716

Qualifying rounds start tomorrow, 20 matches set to be played, full event schedule here:
http://www.citiopentennis.com/tournament_info/2014_tournament_schedule/?intloc=headernavsub

I will provide the draw once it's finalized. Both ATP and WTA threads are provided.

Order of play:
http://www.citiopentennis.com/schedule/?intloc=headernavsub

 

[isabelle]

Monfils pulled out (knee injury) and won't play till USO at best

 

[TennisFanatic7]

I'm surprised that Raonic hasn't followed Genie in pulling out of this event with Toronto next week, his home Masters event at which he is defending finalist's points.

This event will be interesting though. I can certainly see Dimitrov taking another title here.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

The draw is out. 16 year old Tiafoe received a wildcard and faces Donskoy in the first round. Tomic will face Alejandro Gonzalez followed by Istomin which could be a decent draw for him.

Projected last 16:
Berdych (1) vs Pospisil (13)
Giraldo (10) vs Lopez (8)

Nishikori (4) vs Lu (16)
Chardy (12) vs Gasquet (6)

Anderson (7) vs Stepanek (11)
Istomin (15) vs Dimitrov (3)

Isner (5) vs Karlovic (9)
Hewitt (14) vs Raonic (2)

Some interesting clashes in there.

http://assets.usta.com/assets/827/15/MDS_%282%29.pdf

 

[herios]

I'm surprised that Raonic hasn't followed Genie in pulling out of this event with Toronto next week, his home Masters event at which he is defending finalist's points.

This event will be interesting though. I can certainly see Dimitrov taking another title here.

Why would Milos sign up for the event in the first place if he was not sure he could handle these events back to back. He knew well since a year ago that he will defend a big chunk of points in Canada.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

I'm surprised that Raonic hasn't followed Genie in pulling out of this event with Toronto next week, his home Masters event at which he is defending finalist's points.

This event will be interesting though. I can certainly see Dimitrov taking another title here.

Why would Milos sign up for the event in the first place if he was not sure he could handle these events back to back. He knew well since a year ago that he will defend a big chunk of points in Canada.

Would perhaps have been better to express surprise at the fact he signed up for this in the first place, when you put it that way.

 

[Riotbeard]

This probably one of the best citi open line ups in years. 5 really good players with legit chances of winning. Excited to watch. Also interesting rivalry between Kei, Grigor, and Milos.

 

[herios]

This probably one of the best citi open line ups in years. 5 really good players with legit chances of winning. Excited to watch. Also interesting rivalry between Kei, Grigor, and Milos.

You are right, there are 6 top 15 players in the field. Probably one of the strongest fields in a 500 event in some time.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Beijing 2013 had Djokovic (1), Nadal (2), Ferrer (4), Berdych (6), Gasquet (9), Wawrinka (10), Haas (13) and Isner (16) as their seeds, which was a very strong one too. I find the field for this tournament more interesting though as you know what you're getting with most of the guys that made up that Beijing field.

 

[Riotbeard]

WatchESPN.com coverage begins Friday.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

It's hot and humid in Washington today, temperature reaching 86 F

All the qualifying matches were completed yesterday, here is today's card:

The main draw begins tomorrow.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Order of play​

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Bad one:

Rough news in Washington: Grigor Dimitrov has pulled out of the Citi Open due to "the flu and a sinus infection." #CitiOpen

Grigor Dimitrov will be replaced in the Washington draw by lucky loser Sam Groth. #CitiOpen

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I have heard a lot of good things about the 16 year old Francis Tiafoe, who got a WC here and will play Donskoy tonight. He is still ranked in the thousands and probably not going to do great here, but I am really curious to see him.

Sucks about Grigor, by the way. But it is still better than withdrawing because of an injury. He will get over the flu soon.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Another 17 year old made it through qualifying, Jared Donaldson of the USA. He plays Rajeev Ram in the first round. Ranked at 326, appears to be working with Taylor Dent.

 

[Moxie]

I have heard a lot of good things about the 16 year old Francis Tiafoe, who got a WC here and will play Donskoy tonight. He is still ranked in the thousands and probably not going to do great here, but I am really curious to see him.

Sucks about Grigor, by the way. But it is still better than withdrawing because of an injury. He will get over the flu soon.

I'm planning to watch Francis tonight.

 

[nehmeth]

Bad one:

Rough news in Washington: Grigor Dimitrov has pulled out of the Citi Open due to "the flu and a sinus infection." #CitiOpen

Have to say that I'm glad he's sitting this one out, but not for the flu/infection that caused the withdrawal. He's running with the big dogs now, so Toronto and Cinci are the "warm-ups" to focus on before the Open. Hope he's back to full health shortly.

 

[El Dude]

First I've heard of Francis Tiafoe. Seems like a name to watch.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Bad one:

Rough news in Washington: Grigor Dimitrov has pulled out of the Citi Open due to "the flu and a sinus infection." #CitiOpen

Have to say that I'm glad he's sitting this one out, but not for the flu/infection that caused the withdrawal. He's running with the big dogs now, so Toronto and Cinci are the "warm-ups" to focus on before the Open. Hope he's back to full health shortly.

Yeah I'm sure it's just a precaution and nothing bad enough to keep him out of the upcoming Masters events. Sucks that the tournament loses one of the interesting players though.