DC Open

Our yearly tradition, 
my oldest and I, 
at scenic Rock Creek Park 
in Washington, DC,
the DC Open,
a combined ATP and WTA 500 tournament,
founded the year I was born, 1969.

It's one of our favorites on the tour,
as it is small and intimate,
and you can get up close to the players,
snap amazing pictures,
and even have the chance to speak to them,
if you're lucky.

This year was no exception.
We arrived for Friday night play,
and watched 5 different matches,
taking advantage of the lightning delay
to eat dinner and cool off from the brutal heat.

Heading to Baltimore for the night at 11:30,
we continued listening to Fritz's match in the car,
then watched it when we got home,
but headed to bed before it's 2 am finish.

We made the drive back the next morning,
getting in 6.5 hours of tennis again,
roasting in the heat, sweating in the humidity,
sampling the signature drinks,
and happy as could be!

I treasure this time with my girl,
a ritual of ours since she was just 3 years old,
and would sit and watch Wimbledon with me,
learning the scoring,
rooting for her favorites,
and begging for tennis lessons.

We get to as many tournaments as we can,
but this one, in her adopted home,
is a truly special one for us!

Photos:  DC Open, 7.24 and 7.25.25 by LA