The North American hard-court season kicks off in Washington, D.C., with the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, the only combined ATP and WTA 500-level event on the calendar. Played in the heart of summer, this tournament often sets the tone for the US Open Series and provides a strong early look at form on fast outdoor courts.

This year’s draws feature several marquee names, including top-seeded Americans Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula, as well as power threats like Elena Rybakina and Ben Shelton. With fast conditions and physical demands heightened by the D.C. heat, player fitness, serve patterns, and draw structure all factor heavily into potential outcomes.

We’ve broken down both the ATP and WTA brackets to highlight the best outright picks with a blend of strong draw positioning, surface fit, and tactical advantages in mind. Our focus is on identifying the strongest draw positions and surface advantages heading into main draw play.
 

 

 

Mubadala Citi DC Open ATP Best Bet: Taylor Fritz To Win

Fritz enters as the top seed and remains the most dependable option based on current form. He’s won 13 of his last 15 matches, including a semifinal run at Wimbledon and titles in Eastbourne and Stuttgart. He opens against either Vukic or Mpetshi Perricard, who took the first two sets off him at Wimbledon before Fritz rallied to win in five. If they meet again, Fritz will need to start sharper. In the Round of 16, he would face the winner of Lorenzo Sonego vs. Arnaldi or Altmaier. The quarterfinal would likely bring a matchup against either Andrey Rublev or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, both of whom are positioned to come through the section just beneath him. If Fritz advances to the semifinal, potential opponents from the lower half of the top draw include Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, or Gabriel Diallo.

The key storyline in his half is a potential semifinal against one of the other top American names, Frances Tiafoe or Ben Shelton. Shelton's lefty serve and aggressive play make him particularly dangerous on a fast court. Tiafoe, a DMV native, has long drawn strong local support in D.C., but he has yet to advance past the semifinals at this event. Fritz’s well-rounded game, current momentum, and strong American crowd support give him the edge.

On the opposite side of the draw, No. 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti will try to capitalize on a more navigable bottom half. Though not known for dominating on hard courts, his finesse and creativity could carry him through if the section breaks open. Also in that half are Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune — two elite hard-court players with more pedigree on this surface — and Australian Alex de Minaur, whose speed and recent consistency make him one of the most dangerous floaters in the field.This half is packed with high-end talent, but the depth and contrast in playing styles make it hard to back one name confidently.
 

 

 

WTA Best Bet: Jessica Pegula To Win

Pegula returns to the site of her first WTA title and leads the field as the No. 1 seed. While her draw isn’t easy, her comfort level on North American hard courts and ability to absorb pace give her a slight edge over the rest of the field. She opens against either Leylah Fernandez or Maya Joint, followed by a potential clash with Sofia Kenin or Hailey Baptiste. If she reaches the semifinals, a high-stakes battle with Elena Rybakina likely awaits. Pegula leads their head-to-head 3–1 and owns more reliable rally tolerance in extended exchanges. 

While she hasn’t peaked in recent months, this surface remains her best and the setting suits her measured play. She has already captured three titles in 2025, showing she’s still one of the most consistent performers on tour.
 

 

 

Free Pick: Clara Tauson To Win

Tauson may have drawn the most favorable quarter in the field, at least on paper, based on seeding and matchup style. She avoids Pegula and Rybakina until the final and could face Magda Linette or Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals — both matchups that suit her aggressive, time-taking baseline style. A potential semifinal could bring Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, or Emma Navarro, but her current form and draw position make her a strong free-pick candidate.

She enters this week ranked inside the WTA Top 20 for the first time and comes in riding confidence from a solid grass-court swing. With a first-round bye and surface-friendly firepower, Tauson offers excellent value if her price floats above +1000.

We’re also giving an extra nod to Emma Navarro — while her draw is more volatile, she’s proven she can hang on hard courts and continues to trend upward.

 

 

 

How To Watch The Mubadala Citi DC Open

  • Dates: July 21–27, 2025
  • Location: Fitzgerald Tennis Center, Washington, D.C.
  • TV/Streaming: Tennis Channel, WTA TV, ATP Tennis TV
  • Surface: Outdoor hard

 

 

 

2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open Odds & Betting Lines Via DraftKings Sportsbook

With the Mubadala Citi DC Open being the only combined ATP and WTA 500-level event on the calendar, there is plenty to bet on!  Check out the odds for both the ATP and WTA winners below courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:

ATP Winner:

  • Taylor Fritz: +350
  • Ben Shelton: +650
  • Alex De Minaur: +650
  • Danili Medvedev: +700
  • Holger Rune: +1100

WTA Winner:

  • Elena Rybakina: +350
  • Jessica Pegula: +400
  • Emma Navarro: +800
  • Emma Raducanu: +900
  • Clara Tauson: +900

 

 

 

When Is The Mubadala Citi DC Open

Main draw play begins Monday, July 21, and runs through Sunday, July 27. Both singles finals are scheduled for Sunday.
 

 

 

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