Full Breakdown
Rain Delays Force DC Open Finals onto Monday
8/3/2026, 11:30:28 AM
Rain-Interrupted Finals
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, severe thunderstorms in Washington, D.C., halted the Mubadala DC Open women's and men’s singles finals. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula captured the first set 6-4 against Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, but rain forced a suspension early in the second set with Eala leading 2-1. After more than five hours of rain-related delays, officials cancelled play for the day. The men’s final between American Taylor Fritz (seed 7) and Spain’s Rafael Jodar (seed 20) was also postponed before it began.
Tournament Context
The DC Open is a WTA 500 and ATP 250 combined event held at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. The 2026 edition ran from July 27 to August 2, serving as the first hard-court stop of the North American swing ahead of the Canadian Open (August 1-14) and the U.S. Open. All four finalists received first-round byes at the Canadian Open, with their opening matches slated for August 4 or 5.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date (2026) | Event |
|---|---|
| August 2 – early afternoon | Play delayed three hours by thunderstorms; Pegula wins set 1 6-4, Eala leads 2-1 in set 2. |
| August 2 – after 5 h of rain | Tournament announces cancellation of the day’s matches; women’s final to resume Monday. |
| August 3 – 12:00 p.m. EST | Scheduled resumption of the women’s final (Pegula vs Eala). |
| August 3 – not before 1:00 p.m. EST | Scheduled start of the men’s final (Fritz vs Jodar). |
| August 3 – ticket update | Sunday tickets honored for Monday; additional 1,000 tickets offered. |
Scores and Seeds
- Women’s final (incomplete): Pegula (No. 3 seed) 6-4, 1-2 Eala (No. 25 seed).
- Men’s final (pending): Fritz (seed 7) vs. Jodar (seed 20).
Both matches were set to continue from the point of suspension, with Pegula due to serve next in the women’s second set.
Official Statements & Responses
Safety notices instructed spectators to seek shelter immediately during lightning and heavy rain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s going to be a battle,” — Jessica Pegula, player
- “I’ll be honest, I don’t know,” — Taylor Fritz, player
- “The whole time he was really kind of tearing it up, I was injured. I wasn’t paying attention to tennis. I just saw the results,” — Taylor Fritz, player
- “I’m in the final for a reason,” — Alexandra Eala, federer’s former coach
- “Now, obviously, looking back, it’s gotten even crazier,” — Jessica Pegula, player
What’s Next
The women’s final is slated to resume at noon on Monday, August 3, with the men’s final to follow shortly after 1:00 p.m. Both matches will determine the DC Open champions and set the stage for the players’ first-round appearances at the Canadian Open later that week. Organizers have pledged to update ticketing and parking information as conditions allow.
