Fritz Arrives At DC Open In A Positive Frame Of Mind

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (photo: Wick Photography/Mubadala Citi DC Open)

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

As second round play continued at the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Wednesday in the nation’s capital, a city defined by its athletic rivalries and political resolutions, American No. 1 and top seed Taylor Fritz opened his campaign against Australian Aleksandar Vukic with an eye toward garnering his biggest title in three years, since winning a Masters 1000 crown at Indian Wells.

Fritz began his day on Stadium Court tied with No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia for third-most wins on the ATP Tour this season with 30, including 14 on hard courts. In his fifth DC Open main draw, highlighted by his semifinal run in 2023, Fritz looked dominant in his opening-round victory over the 105th-ranked Vukic, 6-3, 6-2, in 59 minutes to advance to the round of 16 on Thursday.

After his recent semifinal run at Wimbledon, following a pair of title successes on grass at Stuttgart and Eastbourne, Fritz arrived in a good frame of mind to begin the North American hard-court season on the ATP Tour calendar that culminates next month at the US Open. 

“I feel like it was needed to have, like a good grass court season for me,” Fritz said during his pre-tournament news conference on Monday. “It put me in a good spot for the rest of the year – kind of moving forward.

“The tough part is just a quick turnaround to be here. I was home for a bit, just relaxing. I couldn’t train every day. I was pretty busy with obligations and stuff I had to do, but I’m here now. I’m looking forward to, kind of, using this week a lot to get ready for the whole swing coming up.”

While Fritz admits the conditions at the H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park can be tough due to the hot and humid conditions found in Washington, D.C. during the middle of summer, he knows there are benefits, too. “It’s good to just be out here and be getting used to the conditions,” he said, “because it’s going to be like that in the next couple of weeks.”

Against Vukic, Fritz played lights-out tennis during his service games en route to his 31st victory. He hit 11 aces and 29 overall winners – 10 of them from his forehand side and seven from his backhand. He dropped just four points on his first-serve while winning 79 percent of his total service points. Fritz saved the only break point he faced, converted three of four break-point opportunities and outpointed Vukic 61-39.

During a post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Fritz was asked what he aspect of his game he thought worked best. He said: “I thought I played pretty well all around [against Vukic]. I thought my backhand line was the best. I usually like that shot. It felt like every single one I tried today was going in.”

Later, in meeting with reporters, Fritz smiled when he said: “Days like today are fun when I can just feel like I just hit backhand line on anything and it’s just going to go in.”

On Thursday, Fritz will face No. 44 Matteo Arnaldi, who upset No. 16 seed Lorenzo Sonego, 7-5, 7-5, in an all-Italian battle that lasted two hours and six minutes on the Grandstand. Arnaldi won 79 percent of his first-serve points, hit 27 winners and converted four of eight break points. He outpointed Sonego 79-68.

Fritz looks forward to becoming match-fit during his week in Washington, D.C., with an eye toward Canada, Cincinnati and, ultimately, the US Open in Flushing Meadows. “I feel like being match-fit beats any kind of stuff you can be doing really off the court to get yourself in shape,” he said.

“That’s the reason why I think playing this week is really good preparation for the rest of the season.”

Washington, D.C. is Kalinskaya’s special place

Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, a DC Open semifinalist in 2019, upset No. 8 seed Magda Linette of Poland, 6-4, 6-0, in 76 minutes on Stadium Court to reach Friday’s quarterfinal round. Kalinskaya, who is making her third appearance at the DC Open, has never fared worse than the quarterfinals. She has won seven of her nine career DC Open matches.

Afterward, Kalinskaya called Washington, D.C., her special place. “I have great memories here,” she said during her on-court interview. “It’s where it all started. It’s really nice to come back. People are very friendly and very supportive – thank you for coming and watching. This place is special.”

The 48th-ranked Moscow native won 83 percent of her first-serve points against the 28th-ranked Linette, hit 24 winners, saved both break points she faced while converted four of 14 break points, and outpointed her opponent 65-44. Linette is the highest-ranked opponent that Kalinskaya has beaten this season. 

“I’m happy with the level I had today,” said Kalinskaya, after earning her 44th career win against a Top-50 player, which improved her season record to 12-14. “I played against her a couple of years ago and she was on fire. I was ready for a tough battle. I’m happy I showed a very good level and it wasn’t such a long match.”

In Friday’s quarterfinal round, Kalinskaya will face No. 4 seed Clara Tauson of Denmark, who held on to defeat 57th-ranked American qualifier Caroline Dolehide, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, in three hours and 10 minutes on the Grandstand. Tauson converted 5 of 18 break points and overcame 11 double faults. She outpointed Dolehide 123-119.

Medvedev rallies to beat Opelka in DC Open return

Former DC Open finalist Daniil Medvedev improved his lifetime head-to-head against Reilly Opelka to 5-2 after rallying to beat the 74th-ranked American, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, in two hours on a hot and sultry Stadium Court, where the afternoon temperature reached the mid-80s (degrees Fahrenheit; 29º Celsius).

The World No. 14 Medvedev, who is making his first appearance in Washington, D.C. since reaching the 2019 final against Nick Kyrgios, has not won an ATP Tour title since the Rome Masters in 2023. Meanwhile, Opelka beat Medvedev in their most recent meeting on grass in the Netherlands earlier this summer – and for a set, it looked like he would make it back-to-back wins over the Russian No. 1.

However, the No. 8 seed took control of the second-round match in the middle set against Opelka. He raced to a a 3-0 lead in the decider and never wavered. Medvedev overcame 16 aces and 30 aces from Opelka to hit 21 winners – including 14 aces. He won 87 percent of his first-serve-points – dropping only six points – and converted three of 13 break points. Medvedev outpointed Opelka 93-82.

Afterward, during an on-court interview with ATP Media, Medvedev was asked what, if any, changes he made since the last time he faced Opelka. “Reilly is tough to play. I have a good feeling on his serve and you kind of have to guess a little,” he said. “You don’t want to over guess it and that’s what I managed to do.

“On grass, he got in my head and made 24 aces. Today was a tiny bit better, especially throughout the match. I managed to get more looks on his serve. I’m happy how I handled my serve after I lost a game in the first set. It got better and better. End of the second set and the third set were the best. I’m happy and looking forward [to the next round].” 

Later, during his post-match news conference, Medvedev said of his absence from Washington, D.C.: “Of course when you play good in Wimbledon, there is – no, it’s tougher to come back here, and that’s why I didn’t come back since how many years. First-round exit [at Wimbledon] was an easy choice to come to Washington, and I’m happy I can play well here.”

Next, Medvedev will face 243rd-ranked qualifier Wu Yibing of China, who upset No. 10 seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, in two hours and 37 minutes on John Harris Court, after hitting 27 winners, saving eight of 10 break points and outpointing his opponent 107-96. 

Around the DC Open

• Among the men’s second-round winners advancing were: No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, who defeated 75th-ranked Bu Yunchaokete of China, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in one hour and 49 minutes on John Harris Court. De Minaur hit 23 winners, converted three of seven break points and outpointed Bu 73-58. It was the World No. 13 de Minaur’s tour-leading 13th hard-court victory of the 2025 season. In the round of 16, de Minaur will face No. 11 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, who defeated 153rd-ranked American qualifier Zachary Svajda, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, in two hours and four minutes on the Grandstand, in back of 36 winners – including 11 aces.

Also, on John Harris Court, World No. 10 and fifth seed Andrey Rublev of Russia was upset by 67th-ranked American teenager Learner Tien, 7-5, 6-2, in 91 minutes. The 19-year-old Tien hit 15 winners and took advantage of 42 unforced errors by Rublev, who was attempting to earn his 250th career win on a hard-court surface. It was Tien’s fourth Top-10 win this season. Next, he will face No. 12 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who defeated No. 50 Jaume Munar, 6-4, 6-2, in an hour and 27 minutes on the Grandstand in an all-Spanish match-up. 

Under the lights, No. 9 seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, defeated 89th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, 6-2, 7-6 (3), in 89 minutes on Court 4 for his second win over the 2022 DC Open finalist. Cobolli struck 10 aces, won 82 percent of his first-serve points and converted four of five break-point opportunities. He outpointed his opponent 75-60.

Next, Cobolli will face World No. 11 and Maryland native Frances Tiafoe, who beat No. 66 Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, in an hour and 55 minutes on Stadium Court Wednesday evening. The No. 6 seed Tiafoe, who hit 35 winners – including 12 aces – has been a quarterfinalist at the last three editions of Washington, including the semifinals in 2024. Meanwhile, Kovacevic arrived after reaching a new career-high ranking by reaching the Los Cabos finals last week. Tiafoe outpointed his opponent 87-77.

• In men’s doubles: No. 4 seeds Yuki Bhambri of India and Michael Venus of New Zealand advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3), 10-6 win over Andre Goransson of Sweden and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands, in two hours and one minute on Court 4. Also, Alexander Erler of Austria and Robert Galloway of the United States advanced to the last eight with a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 win over Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in 73 minutes on Court 4.

• Among the women’s second-round winners advancing to the quarterfinals were: No. 90 Maria Sakkari of Greece, who upset World No. 11 and second seed Emma Navarro of the United States, 7-5, 7-6 (1), in an hour and 59 minutes on Stadium Court Wednesday evening for her third career win over the American No. 5. The 2023 DC Open finalist, who received a wild card into this year’s event, fired seven aces and hit 30 total winners against Navarro. She saved all three break points she faced and converted one of two break-point chances.

Sakkari outpointed Navarro 86-76 to advance to Friday’s last eight against the winner of Thursday’s second-round match between No. 46 Emma Raducanu of Great Britain and No. 51 Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Also, World No. 12 and third seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan eased past 88th-ranked Canadian wild card Victoria Mboko, 6-3, 7-5, in one hour and 25 minutes on John Harris Court Wednesday evening. Rybakina converted four of nine break points and outpointed Mboko 71-61. She awaits the winner of Thursday’s second match between No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech of Poland and wild card Venus Williams of the United States.

• In women’s doubles: No. 2 seeds Taylor Townsend of the United States and Zhang Shuai of China advanced to the semifinal round with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 victory over wild cards Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste, in one hour and 33 minutes on John Harris Court. Townsend and Zhang saved seven of 10 break points and broke Williams and Baptiste three times in four opportunities despite being outpointed 64-63.

Also, No. 1 seeds Asia Muhammad of the United States and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 6-1, 4-6, 12-10 win over Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway and Eri Hozumi of Japan in one hour and 33 minutes on Court 4; and Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan of China reached the last eight with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australians Maya Joint and Ellen Perez in one hour and 23 minutes on Court 4.

Wednesday’s DC Open men’s results

Wednesday’s DC Open women’s results

Thursday’s DC Open order of play

By the numbers

For just the second time in the DC Open’s 13 years on the WTA Tour, the top 2 seeds in the women’s draw are Americans – No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 2 seed Emma Navarro. The first time occurred in 2019, when Sloane Stephens was seeded first and Madison Keys was seeded second.

“Quotable …”

“I feel at this tournament, like, a heavy inspiring the next generation. You know, like I really see a lot of, like, young girls, young boys who are out and their eyes are so big and bright and so excited.

“So I kind of have a really strong sense of gratitude to be here. I think that us being able to share the court together is another one of those moments that people will be able to say, wow, like, this is so amazing.”

– Taylor Townsend of the United States, ranked World No. 2 in doubles, on what it means to have Venus Williams competing at the DC Open.

 

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