The final of the Mubadala Citi Open offered a vivid display of the mental challenges in tennis, as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina faltered against Alex de Minaur despite a strong position. Known for his aggressive style, Davidovich Fokina’s troubles often come from rushing shots rather than hesitation. Sunday’s match underlined this pattern, as he served for the title at 5-3 in the third set and went up 30-0, only to succumb to a sequence of unforced errors including a double fault and a misfired forehand.

His internal battle became increasingly visible, manifesting in intense frustration, arenas of disappointment, and a total collapse of composure in the final stages. Despite squandering three championship points, his competitive spirit never fully diminished during his match points, where he refrained from rushing and acknowledged de Minaur’s superior play.

Davidovich Fokina’s approach to anxiety and pressure, unfortunately, led to his losing from match point up for the second time this year, echoing previous losses in Delray and Acapulco. Yet, his post-match speech was composed and reflective, acknowledging de Minaur’s deserving victory and taking solace in achieving his season goal of breaking into the Top 20.

De Minaur exemplified sportsmanship, consoling his opponent openly on court. “You are a hell of a competitor, a hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. This is not the end, this is only going up for you,” he told Davidovich Fokina. This interaction highlighted the respect and empathy shared between the two, reinforcing that this Washington final is but a waypoint in Davidovich Fokina’s rising career trajectory.

The emotional roller coaster of this match underscores the complexity of mental resilience in tennis, and while the choke remains a haunting foe, the capacity to regain composure and credit the opponent is a testament to true sportsmanship and character.

Leylah Fernandez has signaled her intent as a formidable contender at the upcoming US Open with a commanding performance at the WTA 500 Citi DC Open. The 22-year-old Canadian captured the title by decisively defeating Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2, marking her most significant win to date, surpassing her previous four WTA 250 titles.

Fernandez’s route to the championship included victories over top competitors such as Jessica Pegula, Taylor Townsend, and Elena Rybakina. Her success has attracted commentary from notable figures in tennis. Former world No. 9 CoCo Vandeweghe, speaking on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, noted, “I think she is a threat at the US Open. You are always going to play well where you have had success.”

American player Steve Johnson expressed confidence in Fernandez’s trajectory, saying, “I see big things. Whenever you can get a title on a hard court leading up into a Grand Slam… especially now going home. Some players have a hard time playing at home with the crowds and the pressure and all that. I think she is going to be doing just fine up there.” Johnson referenced Fernandez’s 2021 US Open final appearance, where she reached the final barely at 19 years old, defeating top players including Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka before falling to Emma Raducanu.

Reflecting on her Citi DC Open final performance, Fernandez said, “The match was very solid from my part. I was very happy the way that I held my nerves. I was definitely very nervous in the beginning, but I got to play my game in the important points and kind of push through those nerves.”

Fernandez emphasized the physical and mental challenges she overcame during the tournament: “If I can get through this week, through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat, the humidity, I can get through anything.” On her tactical approach against Kalinskaya, she said, “My intention was actually to be more offensive than her, but I think at the same time, I like long rallies. So that kind of helped me to settle in.”

With this breakthrough victory and her refined composure, Fernandez stands as a clear contender to watch heading into the US Open and the remainder of the summer’s hard court season.

Following a strong performance in Washington D.C., Ben Shelton has achieved a new career-high ATP ranking of No. 7. This milestone positions him as the second-highest-ranked American male player since Mardy Fish last reached No. 7 in September 2011. Shelton’s consistent form over the last year includes 10 quarterfinal appearances or better, nine of which were at ATP 500 events or higher, highlighted by his Australian Open semifinal earlier this year and two ATP 500 finals last fall in Basel and this spring in Munich.

One ranking place below Shelton, Alex de Minaur moved up to No. 8 after winning the Washington D.C. ATP 500 tournament, marking his highest rank since May. The finalist and runner-up in Washington D.C., Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, makes his top 20 debut, jumping from No. 26 to No. 19. His breakthrough reflects his history of 25 career wins over top 20 opponents.

The ATP rankings also feature upward moves from Alexander Bublik (up from No. 30 to No. 25) after a title win in Kitzbuhel and Luciano Darderi (from No. 46 to No. 35) following his victory in Umag. Additionally, Frenchman Corentin Moutet and Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli both enter the top 50 for the first time based on strong semifinal showings in Washington D.C. and Umag respectively.

On the WTA side, Leylah Fernandez surged from No. 36 to No. 24 after securing her biggest career title in Washington D.C. She defeated Anna Kalinskaya, who also climbed to No. 31. Emma Raducanu improved her ranking from No. 45 to No. 33, reaching her highest position since the 2022 US Open, after a semifinal run in Washington D.C.

Taylor Townsend made significant strides on both fronts, rising from No. 97 to No. 75 in singles after reaching the Washington D.C. quarterfinals, and becoming the first mother to reach No. 1 in WTA doubles rankings following her doubles title win alongside Zhang Shuai.

Venus Williams returned to the WTA rankings for the first time since March 2025, positioned at No. 643 in singles after a second-round appearance in Washington D.C. She also re-entered the doubles rankings at No. 571 following a quarterfinal run in doubles alongside Hailey Baptiste.