The WTA draw has been confirmed ahead of the 2024 DC Open (Mubadala Citi DC Open for sponsorship purposes) which is due to take place between July 29 – August 4, 2024 and sees a myriad of top names involved who aren’t playing Olympic Games.

Aryna Sabalenka for instance did not choose to take one of the neutral athlete slots and headlines a myriad of Russian players who are in this draw. She could face Katie Volynets in the second round.

After shoulder issues, it will be Sabalenka’s first tournament in over a month having not played since Berlin. Daria Kasatkina is second seed. She could face Lesia Tsurenko or Caroline Dolehide. Ons Jabeur was another big name miss from the Olympic Games draw. She will face Shelby Rogers or Robin Montgomery.

Emma Raducanu has seen criticism levied at her again this week in her decision not to play the Olympic Games. She has preferred it seems to get ranking practice in and will face Elise Mertens again who she blew away at Wimbledon. Peyton Stearns then could await in an intriguing battle.

Paula Badosa v Sofia Kenin also is a headline first round tie. The winner will face Liudmila Samsonova. While Victoria Azarenka will play also this week and could take on Yafan Wang or Karolina Pliskova in the second round.

It was established in 1969 by tennis icons Arthur Ashe, Donald Dell, and John A. Harris. The event is hosted at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, making it one of the longest-running professional tennis events in a public park.

Initially focusing on men’s competition, the tournament expanded to include women’s matches, becoming a combined ATP-WTA 500-level event. This status attracts top players from around the world, making it a significant stop on the summer hard-court season leading up to the US Open.

The tournament has a storied history of champions, including Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, and Venus and Serena Williams. These champions have helped cement the event’s reputation for showcasing high-caliber tennis.

Carlos Alcaraz will not attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games due to the scheduling of his initial matches. The ceremony is set for Friday, the 26th, at 19:30 CEST local time, while his debut on Saturday morning has led him to opt out of the ceremony.

The issue arises as both his first-round matches, in singles and doubles with Rafael Nadal, are scheduled for early Saturday. Alcaraz’s first match will be on Court Suzanne Lenglen as the second match of the day, following the conclusion of the Jasmine Paolini vs. Ana Bogdan match, which starts at 12:00 CEST local time.

This means Alcaraz will take to the singles court around 14:00 CEST local time. The 4-time Grand Slam champion will face Lebanese player Hady Habib (world No. 275) in the first round. Additionally, he will play doubles with Rafael Nadal about five hours later on the main stadium, Philippe Chatrier, where they will face Argentine doubles specialists, 6th seeds Máximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.

Given that he will play two matches in one day and that the singles match is scheduled early, Alcaraz and his team decided he will not attend the opening ceremony, despite his eagerness to experience it: “I was very excited to be able to go to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics today with Spain, but tomorrow I have two games and it is advisable to rest and be ready! This begins!”

The recent Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion has been a star in the Olympic Village, constantly approached by athletes from other disciplines for selfies and greetings, as well as fans.

Alcaraz mentioned that he prefers staying in the Olympic Village rather than a hotel for the experience: “I want to be around my people, feel the passion and the energy. Yes, staying in a hotel would be more peaceful, but the selfies, memories, and hugs from all the mothers I get here are forever.”