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Citi Open will be back in DC for 2019

WASHINGTON — Organizers have approved a plan that will keep the Citi Open in the nation’s capital, as the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation have agreed to hand over management of the tournament to area-based venture capitalist and owner of the Washington Kastles, Mark Ein.

The Citi Open, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this past summer, consists of an ATP 500 men’s tournament and the WTA international women’s tournament.

According to The Washington Post, 12 offers were made for the ATP event reaching upward of $20 million. Among several American cities, locations in Russia and Qatar were also in the running, but their offers were turned down.

“WTEF is taking significantly less to stay in D.C., but the board members made the right call,” Foundation chair Manuel Ortiz told the Post.

All tournament profits go to charity, a policy that will not change under the new terms. The agreement also includes plans for much-needed improvements to the facilities at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, D.C.

Former Wimbledon champion Vondrousova suspended for 4 years for refusing doping test

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended for four years on Monday for refusing an anti-doping test, the latest high-profile player sanctioned. The Czech cited “mental stress” and fear when the testing agent “rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves.” The International Tennis Integrity Agency made the announcement, saying Vondrousova refused a test in December and the maximum four-year ban for a routine first offense was reached by an independent tribunal following a hearing this month. Vondrousova became Wimbledon’s first unseeded female champion when she beat Ons Jabeur in the 2023 final. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 that year. She also reached the French Open final in 2019, losing to Ash Barty.
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