Washington’s Citi Open canceled because of coronavirus challenges
In announcing the cancellation, Mark Ein, the venture capitalist and owner of the Washington Kastles of the World Team Tennis league who assumed management of the Citi Open in 2019, cited numerous unresolved issues with just more than three weeks remaining before the event’s Aug. 14 start.
“There are too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions, as well as troubling health and safety trends, that have forced us to make this decision now in fairness to our players, suppliers and partners, so that they can have certainty around their planning,” Ein said in a statement.
“In these days,” he added, “health and safety needs to remain the number one priority.”
In consultation with officials from the U.S. Tennis Association and ATP, the governing body of the men’s pro tour, Ein had worked to ensure that Washington’s tournament would kick off the revised men’s calendar that was unveiled in June.
Fans weren’t expected to be allowed to attend for the first time since the event’s 1969 inaugural at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Still, Ein held out hope that if the Washington region entered a new phase of reopening by mid-August, a limited number of spectators would be able to attend.
Under the revised schedule organizers mapped out in June, when projections about the spread of the virus in the United States looked encouraging, the Aug. 14-21 Citi Open would have led directly to the Western & Southern Open, which is being moved from Cincinnati to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York to minimize travel demands on the international field of players.
The relocated Western & Southern Open, in turn, will be followed by the U.S. Open, to be held Aug. 31-Sept. 13 as scheduled. That plan remains intact.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi expressed his regret over the need to cancel the Citi Open amid the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic. He also voiced appreciation for tournament officials’ efforts to adapt and adjust throughout the planning process to ensure the event could be held.
“Unfortunately for the moment there are still large factors at play which are outside of our control,” Gaudenzi said in a statement. “We look forward to the Citi Open returning as one of our signature American events in 2021.”
It will mark the first time in 52 years that the Citi Open won’t be held.
The Western & Southern Open, a combined event for men and women, will begin Aug. 21.
It’s unclear how many of the world’s top-10 players will take part in that event or the U.S. Open, which will become the second Grand Slam event of 2020 after Wimbledon’s cancellation and the French Open’s postponement until late September. Serena Williams, a six-time U.S. Open champion, announced her commitment to play in June.
No spectators will be allowed at the vast tennis complex in Queens for the U.S. Open or the Western & Southern Open. No media, apart from essential personnel to broadcast the events, will be allowed on-site, either.
