Citi Open draw: Nick Kyrgios given tough path to repeat 2019 title run

ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios in action

The prestigious Citi Open, also known as the Washington Open, is one of 13 ATP 500 tournaments and early tournament matches will hold plenty of intrigue including a tough match for Nick Kyrgios.

With 48 main draw slots available in DC, all 16 seeds will enjoy a bye into the second round.

The top seed is Andrey Rublev, who will face either American wildcard Stefan Kozlov or hot British prospect Jack Draper in the second round.

In the Round of 16 Rublev might meet 13th seed and recent Newport titlist Maxime Cressy.

Rublev’s quarter of the Citi Open is loaded with threats with ninth seed Holger Rune and sixth seed Denis Shapovalov on for a possible showdown for a place in the last eight.

The upper middle quarter holds the likes of third seed Taylor Fritz who will want to go deep but plays in a section that includes in-form Alex de Minaur and Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

If Fritz makes the Round of 16 of the Citi Open he could face a British player as a returning Kyle Edmund, entered on a protected ranking, will face qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the first round with the prize a match with Daniel Evans.

Atlanta finalist Jenson Brooksby will be straight back into action taking on Yoshihito Nishioka in the Round of 64.

The lower middle quarter is dominated by American talent with seeds Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka in this section.

Nick Kyrgios returns to the tour for the first time since Wimbledon in a match against 29-year-old American journeyman Marcus Giron.

Despite his run to the final at SW19, Kyrgios did not get a rankings boost and will have to play an extra match if he is to repeat his 2019 title run in DC.

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If Kyrgios wins his opener he will be in for a clash with 14th seed Tommy Paul.

Andy Murray finds himself in the bottom quarter and should he win his opening round match against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer will face Russian Aslan Karatsev in the Round of 32.

Hard-hitting Pole Hubert Hurkacz could block Murray’s path to the last eight but will need to get beyond either home hero Mackenzie McDonald or Finnish No 1 Emil Ruusuvuori.

Nick Kyrgios

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