Just when everything was set for an epic showdown between home favorite Taylor Fritz and sensational Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, Mother Nature intervened. The title match at the ATP tournament in Washington will have to wait as a severe storm accompanied by heavy rain hit the complex.
Doubles Drama and Intermittent Delays
The chaos began earlier during the doubles final, featuring the British pair Julian Cash / Lloyd Glasspool and the American-Croatian combination Austin Krajicek / Nikola Mektić. That match started at 17:00 CET, but had to be suspended in the heat of the second set due to a heavy downpour.
After a long wait and break, the rain briefly stopped, allowing Cash and Glasspool to close out the match, win the second set, and lift the doubles trophy.
Why Couldn’t the Men’s Final Start?
The men’s singles final was scheduled for 20:30 CET, but conditions turned into a nightmare for organizers for several reasons:
- New Storm Surge: As soon as the doubles final ended, the rain started pouring heavily again, and the severe storm returned with full force, forcing organizers to officially postpone the start of the singles match.
- Order of Play on Centre Court: Since all finals are played sequentially on Centre Court, the women’s final between Jessica Pegula and Alex Eala was suspended during the second set (Pegula leads 1-0 in sets, while Eala leads 2-1 in games in the second set). The men’s final is scheduled last in the rotation, meaning it cannot begin until the women’s match is fully completed and the trophy presentation ceremony concludes.
When is the Start Expected?
Even if the rain stops now, the situation remains complicated. According to the current state of affairs, in the best-case scenario—once conditions allow the court to dry—at least one more set of the women’s final must be played, followed by the complete ceremony.
This means that the men’s final between Taylor Fritz and Rafael Jodar will not start before 01:30 or 02:00 CET at the earliest.
Stay tuned to our portal—we will follow every new decision from the organizers and report live minute by minute on the conditions in Washington!
To remember how Taylor Fritz and young Rafael Jodar fought their way to this major battle for the trophy, check out our ATP Washington semifinal matches analysis.
