The Mubadala DC Open 2026 begins Monday July 27 in Washington, officially launching the American hard-court swing towards the US Open. This ATP 500 features five top-10 players in a draw trimmed to 32 this season.
De Minaur vs Tsitsipas, blockbuster opener
Alex de Minaur, world No. 6 and defending champion, faces an immediate test. The Australian opens against Stefanos Tsitsipas, a former world No. 3 looking to reignite his season after a mixed first half. The Greek, now outside the top 15, remains a dangerous opponent on hard courts and poses a stern first-round challenge for the title holder.
Five top-10 players in the draw
The field features Felix Auger-Aliassime (world No. 4, top seed), de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev (7th), Ben Shelton (8th) and Taylor Fritz (10th). The absence of the top 3, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, opens the door for the chasing pack.
Fritz and Tiafoe on home soil
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, two of America's highest-ranked players, will compete in front of their home crowd from day one. Fritz, a consistent performer on the American circuit, has a chance to bank crucial points ahead of Montreal and the US Open. Tiafoe, seeded eighth, will look to rebuild confidence after an inconsistent first half of the season.
Dark horses to watch
Lorenzo Musetti, the sixth seed, arrives with momentum from a strong clay season and aims to translate that form onto hard courts. Learner Tien, the 19-year-old American prodigy seeded seventh, could thrive in the home atmosphere. Arthur Fils and Rafael Jodar round out a draw with strong Next Gen representation.
When does the DC Open start
First-round matches begin Monday July 27 at the FitzGerald Tennis Center. The tournament runs through August 2, with the final scheduled for Sunday. The champion takes home 500 ATP ranking points, a significant haul in the year-end rankings race.
The DC Open is the first of three major American swing events (Washington, Montreal, Cincinnati) leading into the US Open in late August. Auger-Aliassime arrives as the top seed at an ATP 500 for the first time, confirming his rise this season.
