Citi Open

By Jane Voigt Washington D. C., — Heavy air and heavy groundstrokes enveloped the 2016 Citi Open. Court surface temperatures over the last weekend ranged from a toasty 1300 to a hot-to-touch 1430 while air temperatures approached 100. The ATP and WTA competitors, fans, media, grounds crews, volunteer and hospitality staff were the week’s heroes.  Although top seed Tomas Berdych…

By Jane Voigt Washington D. C.,  — If sport is entertainment, then sweat-soaked fans inside Stadium Court got their money’s worth as the obvious favorite Gael Monfils dug himself out of what looked like yet another loss in a final to grab his first Citi Open title and first ATP 500 event.  “I’m happy,” Monfils…

By Jane Voigt Washington, D. C., — Ivo Karlovic played a smart match. He served big, shortened his swing when returning serve, and sliced approach shots with great success. The combination threw just enough curves at Stevie Johnson, who fell 6-4, 6-4. It was Johnson’s second consecutive semifinal loss at Citi Open.  “Hopefully I’ll get another…

Washington D. C., — John Isner blew the top off this tournament nine years back, when it was called The Legg Mason Classic. He’d just graduated from the University of Georgia as a two-time N.C.A.A. doubles champ, was given a wildcard to the main draw, and made a spirited run to the final in his…

By Jane Voigt Washington D.C., — Roger Federer has paid a pretty penny for a haircut, the New York Times reported today.  “It’s much more about what Mirka wants,” Federer said, referring to his wife’s comment in the article that, “He doesn’t want his hair to fall in his eyes.”  Mr. Rogers, the New York stylist at Sally Hershberger,…

By Jane Voigt Washington D.C.,  — Washington D.C. can be a taxing place. After all it’s the nation’s capitol where the President lives, and where laws are made with mediocre frequency. But get yourself to Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, just north of all the government affairs, and the air clears. The annual Citi Open…

By Jane Voigt Washington D.C., — Tennis is not for the faint of heart, especially in a transition period which is the situation at Citi Open in the nation’s capitol this week.  Most of the field here has not played a match since Wimbledon unless they attended Davis Cup ties last weekend. But that number is small:…

By Jane Voigt Washington D.C.,  — John McEnroe touched off a torment of negative comments at Wimbledon. It had nothing to do with his tennis, but everything to do with the state of tennis broadcasting and those people hired to deliver information about matches, players and the state of the sport around The All England…