Haircuts, cookouts and ping-pong: Inside the DC Open tennis experience

Naomi Osaka was strolling the Mubadala DC Open grounds on Sunday. The four-time Grand Slam champion had a first-round bye for the tennis tournament, meaning she wouldn’t play until Wednesday. So, Osaka generated an idea to help pass the time — one someone wouldn’t expect from a professional tennis player.

Having a cookout at the venue.

Osaka made that happen Monday. She hosted a one-hour meet-and-greet for fans at the DC Open’s new front porch fan zone. Fans enjoyed the chance to grab a bite, chat and take pictures with Osaka in a laid-back environment.

The spontaneity in the fan gathering is emblematic of the DC Open as a whole: Intimate, vibrant and unquestionably different from other tennis tournaments.

“I always feel like this tournament sets my swing off on a good note,” WTA No. 1-seed Jessica Pegula said. “Good energy here being in the nation’s capital, and being an American, it’s always a lot of fun for me to play here. … The fans here are really, really fun to play in front of as well.”

Mark Ein has been the DC Open tournament chair since 2019, and he said the tournament has sold out every year since he took over. But this year in particular, he has noticed a large difference in positive fan feedback, he said.

That’s largely because of a multitude of improvements.

LED lights were added around the venue for better illumination for night matches. Additional quiet rooms and new workout equipment were added for players in the player area, which fans can glimpse into through glass windows.

“[Our goal is to] make this a great experience for people that want to come back,” Ein said. “We’re always trying to elevate it for everyone.”

And players at the DC Open — the only combined WTA-ATP 500-level event in the world — often casually walk through the event. It allows fans the opportunity to take pictures, grab autographs and meet their tennis idols. Osaka was just outside the players’ lounge interacting with a swath of fans on Tuesday afternoon.

“Ever since I had my daughter, it means a lot to see young girls and boys looking up to me,” Osaka, who welcomed a child in July 2023, said Sunday. “I take the responsibility really seriously now.”

Baltimore native and fan Landon White’s favorite part of the tournament is how close fans can get to players, including while they’re practicing. There are five fenced-off practice courts outside the Market Square dining area, where fans can watch players train up close.

The 39-year-old White, who has also attended the U.S. Open and Toronto Open, said the DC Open boasts the best competition. Ein echoed that sentiment. The tournament director said for years he was pushing for the competition to drop from 48 to 32 players on the men’s and women’s side, respectively, which it finally did in 2026.

The results have shown — headlined by multiple upsets, including losses from Americans Tommy Paul, Learner Tien and Hyattsville native Frances Tiafoe. Each of their losses came against unranked players.

“Normally you have to go to the first [or] second week of a grand slam to get these types of matches,” said White, who also got his hair cut in a VIP area. “D.C. is special.”

Around the grounds of the tournament, which takes place at Rock Creek Park, there’s a multitude of opportunities for fans to remain engaged.

Ping-pong tables with paddles and balls stand in multiple areas. There’s a Wilson shop with tennis merchandise, gear and equipment, where people can watch a worker restring a racket. Spectators can test their tennis game, too, with the “Serving Up Global Returns” challenge just outside Stadium Court, in which they step inside a blue-caged mini tennis court and serve with a mini racket before seeing their speed.

Free water-filling stations line the venue, along with spritzers, to help mitigate the near 90-degree heat. It’s especially important amid the limited amount of shade on the courts.

“Everybody in the stands is just trying to find whatever shade they can find,” 36-year-old Douglas McDowell from Virginia said. “It’s just hot out here.”

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Fans can find some shade within the front porch fan zone, which contains seating under blue umbrellas. The location used to be a tennis practice court, but now features a big screen showing matches, ivy-laden walls and multiple food vendors.

The largest dining area is The Market Square Bar, which contains eight food options and is right outside the player area. Along with a green ping-pong table just outside the spot, there are wooden tables and white leather chairs for fans to relax in.

Ein still isn’t totally satisfied. He believes the Rock Creek Park grounds can be better maintained — and not just for when the DC Open is ongoing. The tournament director believes the area should thrive the entire year, adding that the courts, locker rooms and lights should all be redone.

“This should be the best urban public tennis facility in America,” Ein said.

Have a news tip? Contact Jake Kauderer at jkauderer@baltsun.com and x.com/jakekauderer.