The Washington Open is one of the standout hard-court events of the North American summer on the tennis calendar. The 2026 edition runs from 27 July to 2 August at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C. The tournament is officially known as the Mubadala Citi DC Open for sponsorship reasons. It holds ATP 500 status on the men’s tour and WTA 500 status on the women’s — making it the only combined 500-level tournament of its kind anywhere in the world.
The event has been a major fixture since 1969 and serves as one of the major warm-up events before the US Open. With ranking points, prize money and hard-court form all on the line just weeks before the season’s final Grand Slam, the Washington Open consistently draws a strong field. Below you can find the full schedule and an explanation of the daily order of play. It’s also worth knowing that betting for the Washington Open and more events is available at 7bet’s tennis betting hub!
Washington Open Schedule
The Washington Open schedule follows the standard one-week format used across the ATP 500 and WTA 500 Tour events. Qualifying is set for the preceding weekend, with the tournament kicking off on Monday, 27 July. Both Men’s and Women’s Singles Finals are played on the closing Sunday. Here is how the week breaks down:
| Stage | Date (2026) | Details |
| Qualifying | Sat 25 – Sun 26 July | Qualifying rounds for both the ATP and WTA draws |
| Main Draw begins | Mon 27 July | First-round matches get under way across both tours |
| Second Round | Wed 29 July | Round of 16 in the WTA draw; second round in the ATP draw |
| Quarter-finals | Fri 31 July | Last eight in both Singles competitions |
| Semi-finals | Sat 1 August | Final four in both Singles competitions |
| Finals | Sun 2 August | Men’s and Women’s Singles Finals + the Doubles Finals |
A few points are worth keeping in mind:
- Men’s field (48) is larger than the Women’s (32)
- The Top 8 seeds on the men’s side get a First-Round bye and enter at the Second Round
This is the main reason why the two tour rounds might not align on exactly the same day. Doubles matches are played throughout the week, alongside the Singles.
Washington, D.C.’s summer weather is also a genuine scheduling factor. Thunderstorms and high humidity are common here in late July, and rain delays could push some matches back. If disruption occurs, organisers may move matches between courts or extend play. Thus, always check the official tournament website or the 7bet IN-PLAY section for the most up-to-date Washington Open schedule.
Washington Open Order of Play
What is the Order of Play?
The Washington Open order of play is the daily schedule that outlines which matches are being played, on which courts, and in what order. Rather than fixing on exact start times, it lists the running order, so a match is described as following the one before it. Only the first match of each session is usually given a fixed time slot, because of the weather factor, which we’ve mentioned.
Impact of Weather and Other Factors
The Washington Open order of play is typically published on the evening before each day’s play. The publishing is only possible once the previous day’s results are known and the organisers can confirm which players have advanced.
Show-court matches with leading seeds, or toughest matchups, are usually placed in the featured day and evening sessions.
Once again, we advise checking the schedule information on the morning of the day, because it can change due to the weather and withdrawals, retirements and overrunning matches that force adjustments. Where a session runs late, later matches may be pushed back by several hours.
Where to Find the Official Order of Play?
The most reliable source for finding the Washington Open schedule and order of play for any given day is the official tournament website: mubadalacitidcopen.com.
ATP and WTA websites and apps also carry daily schedules for their respective draws. Finally, our sportsbook also lists upcoming match times. Find the betting markets for all upcoming matches on the Washington Open betting hub.
Tournament Information
Here is the summary of all essential details for the 2026 Washington Open:
| Tournament | Washington Open (officially the Mubadala Citi DC Open) |
| Dates | 27 July – 2 August 2026 |
| Category | ATP 500 (men) and WTA 500 (women) |
| Venue | William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C. |
| Surface | Outdoor hard court |
| Format | Singles and Doubles draws for both tours, played across a single week |
| Draw size | ATP: 48 singles / 16 doubles — WTA: 32 singles / 16 doubles |
| Ranking points | 500 to each singles champion |
| Prize money | Approximately $2.47m (ATP) & approx. $1.64m (WTA) |
| Main stadium | Approximately 7,500 capacity, with 15 hard courts on site |
| Founded | 1969 |
| 2025 champions | Alex de Minaur (men) and Leylah Fernandez (women) |
More About the Venue
The venue is one of the more unique ones on tour. The William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center sits inside Rock Creek Park, making this the longest-running professional tennis tournament held in a public park. There are 15 total hard courts on-site, with the main stadium accommodating a crowd of around 7,500 when it’s sold out.
The tournament was co-founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Donald Dell and John A. Harris, and is the fourth-longest-running professional tennis event in the United States.
Significance on the Calendar
While it’s not the only ATP or WTA 500 tournament on the calendar, its position on the calendar is what gives it significance. The Washington Open starts soon after Wimbledon and roughly 4 weeks before the US Open, marking the start of the North American hard-court swing.
For both Men’s and Women’s Singles, it’s a great stepping stone to adjust from grass to hard courts, to build sharpness for US Open conditions. The Washington Open is also a top spot to bank ranking points before the Masters 1000 of Toronto and Cincinnati.
The combined ATP-WTA format is another draw. Washington is the only tournament in the world to hold 500-level status on both tours simultaneously. This means that fans can watch the highest level of tennis on both the Men’s and Women’s sides of the draw, aside from the 4 Grand Slams.
Where to Watch the Washington Open in the UK
If you’re in the UK, you have a few options for following the Washington tournament across the week:
- Sky Sports – both the main channels and the Sky Sports Tennis (dedicated tennis channel) carry coverage of the event. Sky Go and the NOW Sports memberships may be the option for fans who don’t have a full Sky subscription.
- Tennis TV – ATP’s official streaming service, which carries live coverage of the men’s side. On-demand replays and highlight reels will also be available soon afterwards.
- WTA Coverage – matches on the Women’s side are broadcast through WTA’s official platform, but are subject to UK rights arrangements.
You can also find live scores on ATP and WTA websites and apps, alongside the likes of Flashscore. Live scoring is also available on 7bet’s IN-PLAY section. Bear in mind that matches run on US time, so be ready for some late nights or catch the highlights and tapes on the day after. D.C. time is five hours behind the UK.
FAQ
When Does the Washington Open Start?
The qualifiers are scheduled to start on 25 July, 2026. The 2026 main draw begins on Monday, 27 July. The official Washington Open schedule lists that the tournament should culminate with the Singles Finals on Sunday, 2 August.
When is the Washington Open Draw Released?
The main draw is often released a few days before the play begins, but the entire matchup picture only becomes clear after the qualifiers conclude and seedings are confirmed. The draw ceremony and the resulting bracket are published on the official tournament website, as well as on the ATP and WTA sites.
Where Can I Watch the Washington Open?
In the UK, you can watch the tournament on Sky Sports Tennis (via TV, Sky Go, and NOW). Tennis TV, and the WTA’s official platform, also stream the action. Live scores are available on our platform, Flashscore and ATP as well as WTA’s official websites.
What is the Difference Between the Washington Open and the Mubadala DC Open?
There is no difference, as both titles denote the same tournament. ‘Washington Open’ is the traditional name of the event, while the ‘Mubdala Citi DC Open’ is the official title under the current sponsorship deal.
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