By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 23, 2019
The Citi Open has a few tricks up its sleeve in 2019. Now under the management rights of Mark Ein, the tournament appears to be working hard to produce a more compelling doubles draw.
More Citi Open: Mark Ein Steps Up to Lock Down Citi Open's Future in D.C.
Two exciting double teams were named in an article by Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times, and both promise to be Stadium Court worthy.
Andy Murray announced his return to the event—he’ll play doubles alongside his brother Jamie—and Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios have also signed on to play doubles.
Reportedly Ein heard Kyrgios talk about Tsitsipas during his appearance on the No Challenges Remaining podcast with Rothenberg, and he reached out to see if he could get the two stars to make an appearance together.
“Since we took over [the Citi Open’s management],” Ein told Rothenberg, “thinking about highlighting doubles and creating compelling teams to come together has been a focus of ours.”
According to the article Ein, who also owns the Washington Kastles of the World Team Tennis League, is considering making a move to add mixed doubles to the event. Mixed doubles is currently only played at Grand Slams and non-tour events.
The main draw for the Citi Open begins on Monday, with draws to be held over the weekend in Washington, D.C.
.