By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Monday, July 29, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka and more big stars are looking forward to the next stop in the North American hard court swing in Washington, DC.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USTA/US Open
While many eyes are on the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the North American hard court swing kicks into high gear at this week’s Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, DC.
Many top players, who chose not to compete at the Olympics, are in DC at the only combined ATP/WTA 500 event hoping that a good run will build their confidence heading into the US Open.
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Top women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka, back at the event for the first time since 2017, is one of them.
After withdrawing right before Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, the two-time Australian Open champion took extended time off to recover both physically and mentally.
“Well, yeah, that was a very tough decision because I never pull out from the tournament because of the injury,” Sabalenka, 26, told reporters in a pre-event press conference about withdrawing from Wimbledon. “Even if I was injured, I was still playing. I was still struggling, but being able to play.
"It was my first experience like that. It was very tough. But I decided to take care of my health, to do a proper rehab, get back stronger. So the recovery was, yeah, very tough one because for two weeks I was doing rehab, like a lot of exercises, a lot of treatments, a lot of recovery stuff.
Sabalenka added, “Then I start practicing, like slowly getting back. So far I'm doing well. Hopefully this injury will never bother me again and I'll be able to play the next Grand Slam, which is my favorite one. I really want to do well there.”
The current World No. 3, who was unable to compete at the Olympics, feels in some ways it was beneficial for her as she needed an extended break from the tour. But she is sure those in Paris will be ready to compete at the upcoming US Open no matter what.
“I think at the end it was very important for me to take a little break. I had really tough, tough struggles starting from March. It didn't stop. Probably it was much needed. Like mentally, I feel more fresh and more ready to go. I don't want comparing myself to the players in Paris because I don't want to think that they going to be not ready. They going to be ready. That's why they're top players. I'm just talking for myself. I feel it was really much needed, and I'll be ready.”
Ons Jabeur, is another player back in DC after several years, who chose not to compete in Paris, but for her it was because of the quick change back to clay from the grass at Wimbledon.
The 29-year-old Jabeur, who deals with a recurring knee issue, felt the tight schedule between the Olympics and the hard court season was one she could not risk.
“Yeah, I mean, with my injury, I think I need more time to get ready for the clay. I mean, in general, just changing the surfaces, it's tougher to go from grass to clay. Since I already changed from hard to clay, clay to grass, grass to hard, it would add one more surface to me. You can see the timing between the Olympics and Toronto is really, really tight.
"Honestly, I don't feel like the schedule of this year in general suits any professional tennis players. I don't see I am the only one that took this decision. I know there are so many players that had different injuries, and they chose not to risk it because of that.
Jabeur added, “You're playing clay, playing a big event like the Olympics, I think you need to be ready and perform at your best. I'm not very young any more, so I try to win as much time as I can and be able to stay as long as I can in this beautiful tour."
Frances Tiafoe, a local favorite, always looks forward to playing at his home event every year. Now playing at the event for the eighth time in his career, the 26-year-old Tiafoe puts winning the event as one of his main career goals.
“The obvious thing (is) get to play at home every year. I think it's a super exciting thing to play here at home every year, playing in front of friends, family, I guess compete at the highest level,” Tiafoe said about why he comes back every year. “I love being home. I don't get the opportunity to be home a lot during the year. It's incredible to be out here. Obviously the chance to hopefully win it.”
Tiafoe, in press, jokingly referred to DC as “the fifth one” behind the four Majors as the tour's biggest events, though he added with a laugh, “(It’s) probably the fourth one because I don’t really count the French Open.”
While Tiafoe may not be the biggest fan of clay events, he did admit his decision to skip the Olympics, played at Roland Garros, felt hard once the Games got underway.
“Brutal, brutal. Brutal, yeah. It's tough. More tough just like seeing everybody on the boat and stuff like that. That was a tough day. I had to play later that day in Atlanta. I'm like, Yeah, I'm turning off every TV and social media. That would have been a cool experience. But actually being here in D.C., understanding what I'm trying to do, where I'm trying to peak at. It's great.
"Again, I'm young. I plan to be in L.A. I also had to look at my body. Still trying to get my knee 100%. To go grass, clay, hard court again, I don't think that would have been the smartest thing for me. But all the best to those guys. Hopefully they'll come back with medals.”
The fifth seeded Tiafoe, who plays Daniel Galan in the second round, is very much ready to do well this hard court season. And he hope it starts with winning DC.
“I’m definitely ready to win this thing. I'm ready to put my best foot forward. I mean, it would be great to just play a bunch of matches here this week and get myself to the weekend, get myself to the position to try to win the event. But I'm ready to put my best foot forward, give it all I got - here, Montreal, Cincy - feel really good going to the US Open. That's the ultimate goal.”
Andrey Rublev is the top men's seed. Opening round play begins on Monday.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USTA/US Open