Citi DC Open Men’s ATP 500 Preview

As the start of the US hardcourt season cranks up in Washington, D.C., the Mubadala Citi DC Open is set to deliver on the fast courts of Rock Creek Park. 

With top seeds like Taylor Fritz and Daniil Medvedev facing fierce competition from big-hitting Ben Shelton and versatile Lorenzo Musetti, the field is stacked with power and potential upsets. 

In a tournament where big serves and aggressive baselines reign supreme, who will conquer the humidity and claim the ATP 500 crown?

Join me as I preview the field when the Citi DC Open begins on Monday, July 21.

Past Champions in Citi D.C. Open Draw

Dan Evan’s (2023)

Gael Monfils (2016)

Citi DC Open Main Draw

Mubadala Citi DC Open Favorites

It’s always hot and humid in Washington. Big baseliners or a serve-forehand combo typically win this tourney. 

Taylor Fritz: Top seed with a perfect game for this venue. Big serve and forehand. A strong grass-court run was encouraging, but does he want to win an ATP 500 event?

Lorenzo Musetti: Strong groundies from both wings. Weaker second serve. Musetti is a finalist on three surfaces, but will a lingering thigh injury derail his D.C. run?

Ben Shelton: Monster serve. Improving groundies and return. He can turn the field’s lights out behind his serve, but is the occasion big enough for Big Bennie? 

Frances Tiafoe: Emotion-based player. Results are improving. Tiafoe loves playing on home soil, but can he finally win his own club’s tourney? 

Andrey Rublev: Big serve. Big groundies, especially the forehand. His results are beginning to improve, but can he handle the heat in Washington, D.C.? 

Daniil Medvedev: Big serve. Deceptive groundies and elite service return. Medvedev is still a ball player, but is he motivated to win the Citi DC Open? 

Holger Rune: Big hitter from both sides. Decent serve. Rune is streaky, but will his fitness issues survive the D.C. heat?

Alex de Minaur: Big groundies. Wheels to burn. His elite defensive skills are a plus, but can his improving serve win him this tournament?

Citi DC Open Noisemakers?

Fabian Marozan: Hits a monster forehand. Loves his drop shot. His groundies are big enough to win here, but will his streaky serve be a liability?

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: Pre-requisite serve and forehand combo. Solid backhand. Perricard has the strokes to win, but will he and his game hold up in the D.C. heat? 

Jiri Lehecka: Big hitter from both sides of the dish. Huge serve. He has the game to beat everyone in this field, but will his fitness hold up?

Matteo Arnaldi: Big, versatile groundies. Strong return game. His baseline skills are tremendous, but can he win enough free points from his serve?

Flavio Cobolli: Last year’s breakthrough finalist. Hits big from both wings. His quarterfinal run at Wimbledon was impressive, but is his serve big enough to win on the faster hard courts? 

Alex Michelson: Big serve and elite backhand. Inconsistent forehand and shaky footwork. He’s on the rise, but can he rip enough forehands to take home the hardware?

Crush Rush News Draw Analysis and Citi D.C. Open Prediction

There is betting value on the Citi D.C. Open winner, but making a pre-tourney winning wager won’t be easy.

Fritz has a tough draw. Possible second-round opponent Perricard nearly pulled off a first-round Wimbledon upset over Fritz, followed by a winnable third-round battle against Lorenzo Sonego. 

Rublev is on the other side of Fritz’s quarter. Rublev is probably the only player in his section who could beat Fritz, but he’s coming off a finals run in Los Cabos, which may not have left him fully fit. 

Shelton and Fritz should meet in the semis. Shelton’s game is built for the fast Rock Creek courts. His service game and improving groundies should land him in a quarterfinal encounter with either Cobolli or Tiafoe. 

It will take a war to come out of the bottom half. Medvedev and Rune headline quarter 3, but Michelson or Alexei Popyrin could make some noise. 

Alex de Minaur and Musetti are in quarter 4. One of those two will likely reach the final. If Musetti is fit, he rolls into the final. If not, de Minaur or Medvedev would be my bets to reach the final.

Prediction: Ben Shelton (+750 at FanDuel)