Daylong rain and thunderstorms force postponement of DC Open men’s and women’s finals
by George Gerbo · The Washington TimesOn again, off again rain and lightning caused an unprecedented postponement of the men’s and women’s singles finals at the DC Open Sunday.
The women’s final, between No. 1 Jessica Pegula and fast-rising star Alex Eala of the Philippines was suspended in the second set with the American Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2 due to persistent thunderstorms and rain that came and went all day.
In a tournament first, both matches will be contested on Monday afternoon. The women’s final will resume at noon, with the men’s final between No. 3 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. and Rafael Jodar of Spain to follow.
Fans that had tickets to Sunday’s matches will be allowed to use those to attend Monday’s rescheduled slate. Additionally, the first 1,000 fans who did not have tickets for Sunday will be able to show up at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center and attend for free on Monday, with gates opening at 11 a.m. On site parking will not be available, however, due to the amount of rain that fell in the center’s grass fields that are used as lots.
Pegula and Eala’s match on Stadium was moved up from the traditional 2:30 p.m. slot to noon — with the men’s doubles final moved to the adjacent John Harris Court — in order to get ahead of any potential inclement weather.
The weather did not cooperate.
Storms arrived just before noon and right as fans were filtering into the venue in Northwest, bringing heavy rains and scattered lightning to the grounds. After a delay of a little more than three hours, the match got underway.
The two traded early service breaks in the first set. Leading 40-30 in the fifth game, Pegula singed a forehand winner down the left sideline on Eala’s second serve to get the first break. Eala answered similarly — up 40-15, she stroked a backhand down the sideline off of Pegula’s serve to level the set.
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Eala’s best chance in the frame came with two break points up 4-3. Pegula, however, rallied with four-consecutive points to force deuce and hold serve. In the next game, Pegula had the same scenario — two break points — and needed them both, with Eala missing beyond the baseline to give away the game. Pegula held at love to take the first set.
The second set made it through just three games on serve with Eala holding a 2-1 lead before the skies opened up again and both players and fans were sent inside to take shelter when play was suspended at 3:57 p.m. The rain tapered, and court drying started just before 6 p.m. in hopes of restarting before a third wave of showers rolled through.
The same cycle happed again after 8 p.m. before tournament organizers finally made the decision at 9:10 p.m. to postpone the matches.
All four players in the finals — Pegula, Eala, Fritz and Jodar — are entered in this week’s 1000 series event in Canada, but all have first-round byes and won’t play north of the border until later in the week.
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George Gerbo
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