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| Lleyton Hewitt returns to the Citi Open (Photo: Peter Staples) |
From our friends at the Citi Open...
Former World No. 1 Plans to Compete in Washington Within Very Limited Schedule; Joins Murray and Nishikori in Strong, Early Field
Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has committed to play in the 2015 Citi Open Tennis Tournament as one of his final stops on his road to retirement.
The former top Australian and World No. 1, who previously announced his plans to retire from the ATP World Tour after the 2016 Australian Open next January, will compete in the Citi Open scheduled August 1-9, 2015, at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. He joins World No. 3 Andy Murray and World No. 5 Kei Nishikori in what’s shaping up to be one of the strongest men’s field in the tournament’s long history (since 1969).
“I have always enjoyed playing in Washington and the support I have received when there,” Hewitt said. “It is appreciated that the tournament has given me a chance to compete within the strong field one final time, and I look forward to giving it my all in August.”
Hewitt, 34, has said that he will play a limited schedule this season making his appearance in Washington a must see. A sure future Hall of Famer, Hewitt holds 30 singles career titles, including the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. He was the youngest male ever to finish the year atop the ATP World Ranking in 2001. This year will be his eighth appearance at the nation’s capital tennis tradition, where he took home the singles trophy in 2004.
“It’s been exciting to watch and follow Lleyton’s career take off since he first played in Washington in 1998,” said Jeff Newman, Tournament Director. “He has been a true supporter of this tournament, turning in memorable performances over the years. It’s our honor to guarantee him a spot in the 2015 Citi Open.”
Courtside Box Seats and a variety of Ticket Packages are now available online at www.citiopentennis.com. Suites and Group Packages are also available by calling the hotline at 202.721.9500. Single session individual tickets will be available starting on Tuesday, May 26.
The Citi Open Tournament is one of only 13 elite ATP World Tour 500-level events worldwide and the only one held in the United States. The event is also part of the prestigious Emirates Airline US Open Series, the five-week summer tennis season that links eight North American hard-court tournaments to the final Grand Slam of the year, the U.S. Open. In addition, the Citi Open Tournament features a WTA International Tournament, which provides fans the opportunity to watch simultaneous competitions of both world-class men’s and women’s tennis throughout the nine-day event. It is one of only four U.S. tournaments that include both men’s and women’s fields.
The tournament’s owner and beneficiary, the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), provides underserved children in the D.C.-area with a safe environment to learn critical life skills both on and off the courts through academic and athletic enrichment.
For more information, visit the Citi Open Tournament on the Web at www.citiopentennis.com. The Citi Open Tournament is a Lagardere Unlimited production, and is a registered service mark of Citigroup Inc.
