Mubadala Citi DC Open

Pro Tennis Comes Back to Rock Creek Park

Pro tennis takes over Rock Creek Park starting this Saturday. The Mubadala Citi DC Open runs July 25 through August 2 at the FitzGerald Tennis Center, with qualifying matches kicking things off Saturday morning at 10am. Here's the thing most families don't realize: the opening weekend is the best time to bring kids. Tickets are the cheapest of the whole tournament, starting around $38, the grounds are relaxed, and you can stand a few feet from the practice courts watching world-class players hit. Try explaining to a 7-year-old that the ball is moving 80 miles an hour. Then let them hear it. The sound alone converts kids into tennis fans.

The main draw builds through the week toward the finals weekend, and evening sessions are the smart play with kids in late July since the day sessions bake in full sun. Rock Creek's tree cover helps around the grounds, but the stands themselves offer little shade, so hats, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle are not optional. If your kids are 5 to 12, the tournament's free Kids' Day on Saturday morning puts racquets in their hands with games and coaches on court; it pairs perfectly with sticking around to watch the qualifiers after.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Go opening weekend. Qualifying tickets are the cheapest of the tournament, and kids can get closer to the players than at any other session.
• ✓Register for Kids' Day. The free Saturday morning clinic for ages 5-12 fills up. Sign up on the tournament site ahead of time.
• ✓Beat the heat. Pick an evening session, or arrive for the first matches and leave before mid-afternoon. The stands have almost no shade.
• ✓Hit the practice courts first. That's where kids stand a few feet from the pros, and where autographs actually happen.
• ✓Bring an empty water bottle. You can refill inside the grounds instead of paying stadium prices all afternoon.