Stifling heat and humidity turned this year’s Citi Open tennis tournament (July 30 to Aug. 7) in Washington, D.C., into a survival of the fittest for both players and fans alike. On Thursday, surface temperatures at center court peaked at an unofficial 137 degrees Fahrenheit. From courtside, you could clearly see its effect on the players’ faces. Yet it was a week of some highly entertaining tennis and a few notable surprises.
The heat and humidity caught up with No 3 men’s seed and top American player, Taylor Fritz, who retired in the third set against Daniel Evans of Great Britain. Fritz later wrote on social media that he thought he was going to pass out. The Women’s Tennis Association’s extreme-heat protocol went into effect, giving players a 10-minute break after the second set of a three-set match to exit the court for a change of clothes, and a quick cold shower or ice bath. Eventual women’s champion Liudmila Samsonova of Russia placed an icebag wrapped in a towel on the back of her neck during changeovers.
Fans were treated to some highly competitive matches, none more tense than the battle between Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios who had to fight off six match points against hometown favorite Frances Tiafoe in a weather-delayed, quarter-final match which went past midnight on Friday. Kyrgios would ultimately win both the men’s singles and doubles Citi Open titles. Unseeded Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan survived the longest match — three hours and 35 minutes — to defeat Evans on Friday before stunning the top seed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-4 late on Saturday to reach the Citi Open finals where his magic finally ended.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) returned to Washington in 2022 for the first time post-pandemic. One of the more entertaining matches was the quarter-final between defending U.S. Open champion 19-year-old Emma Raducanu of Britain and 20-year-old Colombian Camila Osorio. The two women battled just under three hours under a mid-day sun, an amazingly long stretch for a straight-set win. At the other end of the age spectrum, 37-year-old Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, playing without a head covering, made it to the finals before falling to Russian Liudmila Samsonova in three sets on Sunday.
Tennis can be both challenging and dramatic to photograph, full of fast movement and high emotion. View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos from courtside by clicking on the photo icons below.
Simona Halep defeated Cristina Bucsa in straight sets on Monday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Cristina Bucsa lost her Monday match to Simona Halep. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Simona Halep has been ranked world No. 1 in singles twice between 2017 and 2019, for a total of 64 weeks. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mirjam Bjorklund lost to Daria Seville in three sets on Monday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Daria Seville defeated Cristina Bucsa lost her Monday match to Simona Halep. on Monday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Top seed Jessica Pegula prevailed over Hailey Baptiste on Monday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Top seed Jessica Pegula prevailed over Hailey Baptiste on Monday/ Photo by Jeff Malet.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray was one of several former world number 1’s to compete in this year’s City Open in Washington D.C. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray lost his opening match on Monday to Mikael Ymer. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Top ranked America Taylor Fritz defeated Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Alexei Popyrin lost to Taylor Fritz on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Taylor Fritz later wrote on social media that he thought he was going to pass out due to the heat. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Jack Sock lost to Naxime Cressy on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Emma Raducanu defeated Camila Osorio in extreme heat on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Camila Osorio battled Emma Raducanu on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
US Open champ Emma Raducanu defeated Camila Osorio on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Emma Raducanu greets her fans on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Reilly Opelka stretches his 6’11” frame on Thursay against Nick Kyrgios on Thurday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Kaia Kanepi, age 37 plays without a head covering on Friday, defeating Anna Kalinskaya. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Maxime Cressy loses to Andrey Rublev on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Top seed Andrey Rublev defeated Maxime Cressy on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Victoria Azarenka defeated Tereza Martincová on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Tereza Martincová lost to Victoria Azarenka on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Victoria Azarenka defeated Tereza Martincová on Friday..Photo by Jeff Malet.
Tereza Martincová serves against Victoria Azarenka on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Francis Tiafoe defeated Botic van de Zandschulp on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Botic van de Zandschulp lost to Francis Tiafoe on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Reilly Opelka stretches his 6’11” frame on Thursay against Nick Kyrgios on Friday after a suspended match. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Rebecca Marino lost to Daria Seville on Friday Photo by Jeff Malet.
Daria Seville defeated Rebecca Marino on Friday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Kaia Kanepi defeated Daria Seville in Saturday’s women’s semi-final. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Xiyu Wang lost to Ludmilla Samsonova in women’s semi-final on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mikael Ymer lost to Nick Kyrgios in men’s semi-final on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Nick Kyrgios defeated Mikael Ymer in men’s semi-final on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mikael Ymer lost to Nick Kyrgios in men’s semi-final on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mikael Ymer lost to Nick Kyrgios in men’s semi-final on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Andrey Rublev was upset by Yoshihito Nishioka in Saturday’s mens semi-final. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Kaia Kanepi lost to Ludmilla Samsonova in Sunday’s women’s final. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova won the Citi Open after beating sixth seed Kaia Kanepi in the final on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Kaia Kanepi lost to Ludmilla Samsonova in Sunday’s women’s final.
Yoshihito Nishioka lost to Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s men’s finals.
Yoshihito Nishioka in shadow serves during men’s finals on Sunday.
Runner-up Yoshihito Nishioka and champion Nick Kyrgios pose with trophy’s after men’s championship match.
Nick Kyrgios signs autographs following his singles final victory.
Nick Kyrgios celebrates with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi.