The Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington has reached its final stages, and the quarterfinal clashes are bringing top-tier tennis drama. Right at the start of the weekend showdown, one thing is clear – the Washington tournament will crown a new champion, as local favorite Brandon Nakashima eliminated the first seed and defending champion.
While we haven’t been tracking every single minute from the opening days, the initial rounds delivered several fantastic storylines that defined this year’s edition.
Stories That Marked the Opening Rounds
- First ATP win for a legendary surname: Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former world No. 1 and champion Lleyton Hewitt, delivered the biggest surprise of the tournament. In his debut appearance, the young Australian defeated local player Marcos Giron to secure his first career ATP victory, before being stopped in the next round by his compatriot Alex de Minaur.
- Kei Nishikori’s exclusive club: The 2015 Washington champion and former world No. 4, Kei Nishikori (currently ranked 721st), received a wild card from the organizers and justified it with a win over Shang. With this triumph, Nishikori joined Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, and Gasquet as only the 11th player since 1990 to record at least one ATP-level victory in 20 consecutive seasons. His run was halted in the next round by the young Spanish talent Rafael Jodar.
Aside from the feats of young Hewitt and Nishikori, the rest of the draw was mostly dominated by the favorites who secured their spots among the top eight right on time.
Quarterfinals: Nakashima First in the Semis, Fierce Battles Underway
- Brandon Nakashima – Alex de Minaur 2:0 (7:6 / 6:4) In the first completed quarterfinal, Nakashima played an exceptionally stable match under pressure, won a tight first-set tie-break, and then broke the second set for a massive victory over De Minaur.
- Taylor Fritz – Alex Michelsen 2:1 (6:1, 3:6, 7:6) The all-American clash delivered a great battle and true drama. Fritz opened the match forcefully, taking the first set convincingly 6:1, but Michelsen fought back to take the second (6:3). In the end, Fritz secured his semifinal spot only after a tense tie-break in the deciding third set.
Remaining Quarterfinals: Comebacks for Jodar and Tabilo
- Rafael Jodar – Lorenzo Musetti 2:1 (1:6, 6:1, 6:4) The young Spanish sensation continues his incredible run in Washington! After losing the opening set convincingly (1:6), Jodar took full control of the match, dominated the second set, and completed a thrilling comeback to eliminate seeded Lorenzo Musetti for his first ATP semifinal berth.
- Alejandro Tabilo – Ben Shelton 2:1 (4:6, 7:5, 6:4) The Chilean pulled off another major upset by knocking out home favorite Ben Shelton. Despite losing the first set 4:6, Tabilo raised his level in the pressure moments, edging a tight second set 7:5 before closing out the decider.
Semifinal Matchups
- Brandon Nakashima – Taylor Fritz
- Rafael Jodar – Alejandro Tabilo
Read our complete semifinal preview, player form analysis, and schedule in our latest article: ATP Washington 2026 Semifinals Preview.
Round of 16 and Round of 32 Results
Round of 16 (1/8 finals)
| Date | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 31 | U. Humbert | B. Shelton | 1:2 (7:6, 3:6, 4:6) |
| July 30 | T. Atmane | A. Tabilo | 0:2 (3:6, 6:7) |
| July 30 | A. De Minaur | C. Hewitt | 2:0 (6:2, 6:3) |
| July 30 | B. Nakashima | J. Mensik | 2:1 (7:6, 3:6, 6:4) |
| July 30 | R. Jodar | K. Nishikori | 2:0 (6:3, 6:2) |
| July 30 | A. Michelsen | A. Mannarino | 2:0 (6:4, 7:6) |
| July 29 | T. Fritz | K. Majchrzak | 2:0 (6:3, 6:4) |
| July 29 | A. Vukic | L. Musetti | 1:2 (3:6, 7:5, 3:6) |
Round of 32 (1/16 finals)
| Date | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 29 | A. De Minaur | S. Tsitsipas | 2:1 (6:4, 3:6, 6:3) |
| July 28 | T. Svajda | J. Mensik | 1:2 (2:6, 7:6, 3:6) |
| July 28 | M. Damm | B. Shelton | 1:2 (4:6, 6:4, 4:6) |
| July 28 | B. Nakashima | T. M. Etcheverry | 2:0 (6:3, 6:4) |
| July 28 | M. Giron | C. Hewitt | 0:2 (3:6, 4:6) |
| July 28 | A. Mannarino | L. Tien | 2:0 (7:5, 6:4) |
| July 28 | A. Fils | R. Jodar | 0:2 (6:7, 3:6) |
| July 28 | A. Michelsen | M. McDonald | 2:0 (6:4, 7:5) |
| July 28 | K. Majchrzak | T. Paul | 2:0 (7:5, 7:6) |
| July 28 | U. Humbert | A. Martin | 2:0 (6:2, 7:5) |
| July 28 | F. Tiafoe | T. Atmane | 1:2 (6:4, 3:6, 4:6) |
| July 27 | A. Vukic | Z. Svajda | 2:0 (6:3, 6:1) |
| July 27 | K. Nishikori | J. Shang | 2:1 (6:3, 7:6, 6:4) |
| July 27 | T. Fritz | Z. Bergs | 2:0 (6:3, 6:4) |
| July 27 | M. Arnaldi | L. Musetti | 0:1 (0:6, 1:3 – retired) |
| July 27 | A. Tabilo | T. Griekspoor | 2:1 (7:6, 4:6, 6:4) |
Follow TennisSignals live: Stay tuned, we will soon bring you the analysis and preview of the semifinal matchups!
Will the local players manage to keep the trophy in the United States, or are we in for another surprise in the capital? Share your predictions in the comments and follow all the latest tennis world news.
