By: Ben Raby
As qualifying concludes Sunday and the main draws take shape, Mubadala Citi Open tournament officials have already announced a number of marquee matches scheduled for Monday.
Monday’s primetime slate on Stadium Court kicks off with a blockbuster first-round match in the WTA draw as Wimbledon semifinalist Elina Svitolina meets former World No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka. The encounter will be a rematch from their epic fourth-round showdown at Wimbledon just three weeks ago, in which Svitolina prevailed in a third-set tiebreak. Svitolina and Azarenka are among the most decorated players in this year’s field with 38 singles titles between them.
The nightcap on Stadium Court just happens to include Svitolina’s husband as 2016 DC champion Gael Monfils takes on a qualifier. Monfils was also a finalist in Washington in 2011 and has a career record of 12-3 in Rock Creek Park.
The first match on Stadium Court Monday afternoon will see reigning women’s champion Liudmila Samsonova begin her title defense against University of Virginia alum and 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins.
Among the other highlights on Monday afternoon will be a marquee first-round men’s doubles match as College Park native Frances Tiafoe and partner Hubert Hurkacz take on the all-American duo of Christopher Eubanks and Sebastian Korda.
Also on Monday afternoon, former World No.1 Andy Murray and fellow Brit Daniel Evans take on the second-seeded tandem of Austin Krajicek and Mate Povic.
