WASHINGTON — The opening day of main-draw play at the Mubadala Citi DC Open delivered a full slate of storylines at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on Monday, from a hometown upset to a 45-year-old legend’s triumphant return to the doubles court. Frances Tiafoe’s title hopes took an early hit, while Taylor Fritz, Leylah Fernandez, Liudmila Samsonova and a new-look Venus Williams doubles team all opened with wins.
Tiafoe, the tournament’s No. 6 seed and a Hyattsville native playing in front of his home crowd, fell in three sets to Terence Atmane, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, in the first round — Atmane’s first career win over Tiafoe and the American’s earliest exit in Washington since 2021. Third-seeded Taylor Fritz had no such trouble, needing just 79 minutes to beat Zizou Bergs, 6-3, 6-4, for the 250th hardcourt win of his career.
On the WTA side, defending champion Leylah Fernandez opened her title defense in style, breaking Magda Linette’s serve five times in a 6-1, 6-4 win in just over an hour. Liudmila Samsonova, the tournament’s 2021 champion, rallied from a set down to upset No. 6 seed Madison Keys, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. And in doubles, Venus Williams made her much-anticipated debut alongside new partner Diana Shnaider, the pair beating Quinn Gleason and Ulrikke Eikeri, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals.
Play continues Tuesday and Wednesday at Rock Creek Park, with Venus Williams set to open her singles campaign against Anastasia Potapova.