Some days, it pays to arrive
early. Such was the case at today's
Citi Open, where
Kei Nishikori and
Marin Čilić wrapped up play before 6:00 PM. Ditto for all four women's singles quarterfinals (including top-seeded
Ekaterina Makarova.) That's a lot of primo tennis to miss out on... unless you have the
Tennis Channel (and the opportunity to watch it, of course.) Undaunted, I slipped into a crowded Stadium Court to watch
John Isner serve his way around, over and through (20 aces) a determined
Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Meanwhile on Grandstand 1, the
Bryan Brothers advanced to the Men's Doubles semifinals with a hard-fought win over
Treat Huey and
Scott Lipsky 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.
Except for the last Men's Singles quarterfinal (where
Steve Johnson ended
Jack Sock's impressive run with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory) that was all she wrote. Three total matches before two very full houses. Let's just say:
Next year, I'm taking off work on Friday.
Luckily, tomorrow is packed with plenty of tennis across two sessions (day
and night.) The highlight has to be a rematch of the 2014 US Open finals between Nishikori and Čilić (on Stadium Court, not before 2:30 PM.) Isner and Johnson will battle in the other (all-American) semifinal tomorrow night at 7.
Women's Singles should be terrific as well, with Makarova and
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova duking it out on Stadium Court in the late afternoon... followed by a late night showdown between #2
Samantha Stosur and crowd favorite
Sloane Stephens on Grandstand 1 (not before 9 PM.)
Men's Doubles features the top four seeded pairs, including Bob & Mike Bryan back on Grandstand 1 around 4:30 PM (possible court change.) The Bryans will lock horns with #3 seeds
Rohan Bopanna and
Florin Mergea. Can the Bryans
finally win a fourth DC title, after winning three-in-a-row between 2005-07? I say it's their's to lose.
Last but not least, the Women's Doubles finals gets underway at 1 PM, as #3 seeds
Lara Arruabarrena and
Andreja Klepač face #4
Kristina Mladenović &
Belinda Bencic on Grandstand 1.
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| Scott Lipsky |
Tickets are still available for tomorrow's sessions.
Click here to purchase tickets online; or visit the Citi Open Box Office outside the main entrance.
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| Coin toss |
Click here for today's results.
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| Some guys have all the luck... |
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| John Isner |
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| Ricardas Berankis |
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| Treat Huey |
