The State of Tennis in the Capital
An interview with ATP-WTA 500 Washington tournament owner Mark Ein on his event, Venus Williams' return, doubles, and more.
WASHINGTON — Still a bit jetlagged from Wimbledon, I’m happy to get to bring y’all some local news for a change here on Bounces, as my hometown tournament is getting underway in Washington DC.
This tournament is one of the longest-running on tour, starting in 1969; my own personal memories here trace back to 1996, when I won tickets to the final in a radio call-in contest and watched from the upper deck with my dad as Michael Chang beating Wayne Ferreira in the final.
This tournament has grown considerably since that era: it’s now a combined men’s and women’s event, strengthening as other tournaments in the United States have often dwindled and disappeared, most recently the Atlanta tournament which occupied this week of the calendar last year.
But amid upheaval elsewhere, the event’s future seems secure here in Washington thanks to the efforts of one man: Mark Ein, a local businessman—and former ballboy at the tournament—who has owned the event since 2019.
Anyone who has been to this event in his era will have seen plenty of Ein around the grounds: he is one of the most hands-on tournament leaders you’ll find anywhere on the tours, getting personally involved in every issue at the tournament, big or small.
As we began this interview for Bounces earlier this week, Ein told me about how his indefatigability recently turned heads over the Atlantic.
“I was on an 11-hour plane back from Greece yesterday, and when I got to baggage claim, this man who was sitting next to me talked to me,” Ein said. “He said ‘I've never seen someone work harder than you just did on that flight. You didn't eat, you didn't watch a movie. I kept telling my wife, ‘Look at that man, he doesn't take any breaks!’ And I said ‘Well, it's a little bit busy for me these days.’”
Ein’s tournament, officially called the Mubadala Citi DC Open, is the only combined ATP 500/WTA 500 on tour since the WTA side upgraded in 2023. It’s beginning closer to the end of Wimbledon than this tournament ever has before, thanks to the newly expanded 1000 events later this summer pushing it forward by a week.
Ein and I discussed that change, as well as other topics including his strategy for building a player field, the path to equal prize money here, the opportunities he sees in doubles, the unexpected return of Venus Williams to competition at this year’s tournament, and more about the past, present, and future of the event.
Adjusting to a Changing Calendar
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: This is the first year of this new calendar in the American summer, with the longer Masters 1000 events, and so as a result this event is probably closer to the end of Wimbledon than maybe it's ever been before. That doesn’t seem to have been a decidedly detectable detriment to the the entry list this time, but what was your level of concern about how the new calendar would be? And how did you manage to keep the field this strong?
Mark Ein: Yeah, when the calendar change was proposed and worked through, it definitely was something that we focused on. We weren't sure what the future was going to bring.
As it's turned out, we have really a fantastic field this year. I think part of it is that we’re the only combined 500 in the world, and one of only 10 combined events at this level or higher. So you have both tours to tap into for star power, and that helps a lot. I think if you were just one or the other, it would look different, but being both together makes a real difference.
Secondly, we've made really, really big investments in the player experience, from what they experience on-site to the quality of the hotel. I think people view this as an important week with a lot of points and good prize money, but also as a really good environment to come and train and get ready for the rest of the summer. We hear that from players, that they really enjoy being here.
I also think we have a really great fan base in Washington who loves tennis, and people like playing in front of them. And then we also hear from a lot of European players that they love Washington, D.C. as a city. It feels very comfortable to them. So you get all that.
And then the last thing is there's just a lot of Americans in the top of the game, so that helps because the American players like to play the American events. So you see we had the top nine American men and most of the top American women; that's also helpful.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: Yeah, and I guess that category didn't always have the most overlap with the top of the rankings in the last couple decades, especially on the men's side. But now there’s more meaningful American representation, in the Top 20, especially.
Blueprints for Building a Player Field
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: You mentioned being a combined 500; that’s a unique thing here. What are the challenges or opportunities at this level? It’s a level where players pick and choose which ones they play, rather than being a mandatory tournament. So how do you manage to get this many of them there?
Mark Ein: One of the things that we did when we took over was completely change the strategy around player field.
This tournament, like a lot of them, used to be built around one or two big stars. We changed to focus more on recruiting a much bigger, broader field of players. That does a couple things: it means that any day you go, you're going to see great matches, whether it's the first day of the tournament or even qualifying, all the way to the finals. Because you're not counting on one or two stars carrying the tournament. It also—and this goes to the proximity to other tournaments and just the way the tour is—makes you much less susceptible to [star attractions] pulling out because of injuries and other things. And so it really is a big difference.
This tournament used to really make a big bet on one person. That player would play on Wednesday, so everything before then would have fewer big names. Then if they lost, you'd be stuck with fewer big players. Whereas now, you kind of know that any day you come, you're going to get to see a bunch of great players.
And then it's insurance and insulation against one or even a couple players pulling out—which we're having because it's right after Wimbledon. So for example Amanda Anisimova was supposed to come, and she isn't now because she made the finals of Wimbledon. That's less of a big deal than if you made a big bet on her as part of a smaller number of players.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: Yeah, I remember that very clearly: you took over in 2019 when you had Zverev as two-time defending champion, and then he didn't come back.
Mark Ein: And you asked him about it at Wimbledon at the press conference.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: That’s right, I did.
Mark Ein: Yeah, I mean it wasn't easy because those couple big players were used to the tournament working that way; we didn't think it made any sense.
This is part of that overall strategy: when you look at player field and proximity to other events and just the way tennis is these days where people are getting injured, we made that very concerted strategic shift, and I think it's paid off in a huge way. And it's also just, I think, more attractive to have a poster that shows 20 amazing players fans want to see as opposed to just two or three.
The Path Equal Prize Money in Washington
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: I know there's been this push from WTA the last couple of years to have equal prize money eventually at all the combined events that haven't had it previously. How is Washington's timeline on that journey looking?
Mark Ein: Yeah, so when we brought the WTA 500 to Washington three years ago, one of the commitments we made is to have equal prize money for the two events by 2027. That’s six years ahead of what it would have been if the tournament were a standalone WTA, it would have been 2033 [if it weren’t a combined event].
It's a huge acceleration. You know, the challenge there is just that the revenues that come with the WTA event are just, you know, they're significantly below the ATP. So they do let you have a ramp, and that’s also more time, hopefully, for the WTA’s strategic plan to kick in and be able to drive more to help contribute. Because really, a lot of the differences are accounted for by the significant difference in TV money and sponsor money that comes from the two tours.
In both cases, all the international rights are sold by the tours. And it's a significant difference. But we're really proud to embrace the equal prize money on a dramatically accelerated timeline, and think it's good thing.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: So 2027 is still the goal you have in mind?
Mark Ein: Yeah, and it ramps up annually, starting this year. We’re increasing the prize money that this event will pay, gross, and its going to be greater than it would have been if it was a standalone until it gets to equal in three years.
Doubles Dealings
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: One thing that’s kind of a signature of yours as a tournament organizer is the doubles partnerships, including some that are already announced for this tournament: Tiafoe-Shelton, Monfils-Kyrgios, etc.
I wrote a New York Times article talking about how you did this years ago, but can you explain again that part of your strategy, and how you use doubles in a way that I think is fairly unique? Here, doubles is part of the value-add with the top singles stars, and you make it part of their contracts.
Mark Ein: Yeah, thanks. That is something that we've leaned heavily into, and made a real priority and focus for us: trying to bring the best doubles teams in the world, but then also create compelling matchups amongst the singles players to combine and play doubles.
And over the years, we've had some amazing ones. Our first year, we had Tsitsipas and Kyrgios, who had had a little bit of an online back-and-forth, and then came together to play doubles in D.C., which was fun.
Emma Raducanu's first doubles match she had ever played as a pro—and her only one until a few weeks ago—was in D.C. And and this year we're thrilled for Nick and Gael and also Ben and Frances. We think that'll be great.
There's a lot of reasons for it. Just first of all, doubles is what 80 percent of tennis players play. So showing the pros playing what actual rec players are generally playing, I think is a good thing. And there's not many better atmospheres anywhere than getting to see a couple of the best singles players on a side court playing doubles. Maybe they’re being a little bit more relaxed, but they’re still playing really hard.
And then just it's a different game that I find really fun to watch and really interesting. I think a lot of real tennis fans feel the same way. So for all those reasons, it's something that we've made a huge priority and we love it and are really excited for what we're gonna show this year.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: Yeah, and I think it just doubles the opportunities for a fan to see someone like Frances.
Mark Ein: And the way the way it works, because we're a combined event and you have so many big singles matches in the opening days, all virtually all the doubles matches on the early days, at best are played on our Grandstand court, which is our third biggest court, which is only about 1,500 fans. And so it is the absolute most packed, longest line to get in when you get an amazing team of singles players playing doubles on one of those courts. The atmosphere is really extraordinary. It's one of the more fun times of the tournament each year when you when we get those matches on their Grandstand court.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: And players are game to play doubles when you propose it? To convince someone like Raducanu, who had never played doubles, to play doubles in DC [in 2022]—is that easy convincing players who might not otherwise post up week-to-week in doubles?
Mark Ein: Well, I think there’s a couple of things. I think you generally see singles players playing doubles at the beginning of swings; you see it in Indian Wells a lot, right? And then you see it here. Because I think players do think it's a good way to get back into form, and it's good way to get some more matches on a new surface. So that's generally when you see it, and we, being the first big event of this swing, we take advantage of that.
And I'm a huge believer that for players who naturally maybe don't move up into the court, maybe don't come to that, maybe need to work on their transition game, that one of the best ways to do it is to play doubles and get used to it on the doubles court and then you bring it into your singles game. And so I think a lot of the players feel that way, and they use doubles that way.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: Yeah, certainly a lot of the top women played a lot of doubles earlier in their careers—Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Pegula all played a lot of doubles.
Mark Ein: You know, Coco won her first WTA title in 2019 here, winning our doubles title. So that's a perfect proof. That was one of her first WTA tournaments she ever played, and she ended up winning the doubles with Caty McNally that year. And you really see the benefit of it.
Before we get off doubles, one other really fun thing, Ben, is that last year we were the first tour event ever to live-mic players in doubles, which is something that I've wanted to do for a very long time. We actually brought it to World Team Tennis in 2018 and got some just absolutely extraordinary content. And whether you're a tennis fan who just wants to hear how the pros strategize on the doubles court, or if you're just a general sports fan and you want to hear what it's like to be on the field of play, it was amazing.
We worked for a very long time and we got approval to do it last year, and we're going to do again this year. When you look at the NBA and the NFL, their single best social content is the mic-ing content; it’s the thing people love the most.
When we started it in World TeamTennis in 2018, I thought it was going to be more valuable for singles—even though people aren't talking, just to get a sense of the exertion from players that you see on the court. It turned out, obviously, there was no one for them to talk to, so it doesn't have as big an impact. But on the doubles court, it was amazing, and so we brought it to doubles. We're going to do it again. And I really want doubles to continue to succeed on tour, and I think this is going to be one of the best ways for them to do it: to create compelling social content that the singles players can't do.
Ben Rothenberg: I remember Harri Heliovaara, I think, doing it last year?
Mark Ein: It's amazing. It's so fun, and obviously with some of these teams we have, I think it'll be memorable.
Venus, Back in Orbit
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: Onto the biggest and most surprising name on your entry list this year: Venus Williams [the 45-year-old seven-time major champion who last played a match in Miami 2024].
I think a lot of people were surprised when this announcement came out during Wimbledon, because people honestly weren't sure if she would ever play again; she was listed as officially inactive. So what was the path to getting Venus here, back in a draw for the first time in more than a year?
Mark Ein: As you know, Venus and I have been friends for a very long time since both she and Serena played for our World TeamTennis team [the Washington Kastles]. We've just become very close friends for a long time.
She mentioned this to me—actually months ago—as something, and asked if we would consider it. I said ‘Of course.’ And so obviously it's been in the works for quite a while. But she's been training hard, and we confirmed it. And the reaction's been fantastic. I think people are really excited to see her back playing, and we're excited to have it be in Washington, D.C.
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: When you say ‘confirmed it,’ I guess I'm just curious, how do you as a tournament organizer—because I saw some reactions like this—how do you judge if a player who hasn't played in a year is ready to compete at this level?
Mark Ein: I think you have to trust someone like Venus Williams, that they are going to be the best judge of that. I think with the contribution that Venus has made to the sport—she's made a big impact in our city, fans love to watch her play—I think it’s the world’s easiest call that if she wants to come play, we’re going to create the opportunity for her to play.
The Future—and Past—of Tennis in Washington
Ben Rothenberg, Bounces: I know there have been proposals—and this may be getting too into the weeds—about big ambitions at the tournament for renovations and upgrading the facilities. So what is the status of those long-term projects? And in the meantime, what are the things going on with the venue this year?
Mark Ein: Yeah, so since we took this over, we've really made huge investments and really focused on the fan experience, even with the constraints of the site. Especially the food and beverage experience, which is both bringing in amazing partners—we have seven Michelin stars and the best in DC. We have Ben’s Chili Bowl, and Cava, and Dolcezza, places that that you would know.
But then we are also creating a whole series of different fun venues for people to go. Because for me, the huge opportunity for tennis tournaments is that you're not buying a ticket to one two-hour game. If you create a fan experience and you have great food and drinks, people will stay for six, seven, eight hours, and they’ll come back every day.
And that's what's happened: when we took the event over only five years ago, 18 percent of the tickets were sold to people buying the full tournament; now that's up to 73 percent. Obviously the player fields have been great, but I think of lot of it is just due to the quality of experience. People think: ‘I can go, have great food, great drinks, and I'm gonna have a great time, whether I'm watching tennis or whether I'm walking around the grounds.’
When I go to the Grand Slams now, I think about that: people aren't buying a ticket to a Grand Slam, almost ever, because of who's playing that day. It's more just to absorb the atmosphere and enjoy the overall experience, you know? And that's, I think, what we've created.
On the site: the story of the tournament's pretty extraordinary, and I think the history of the tournament is super important.
I think it's actually really unique: it was started by three men, Donald Dell, John Harris, and then Arthur Ashe. They asked Arthur to be part of it, and he said he would—but only if they would put it in a public park. Because in 1969, every pro tournament was held in a private club—even the U.S. Open. And that was the vision, and that's why it's in the public park, Rock Creek Park.
So we all have a huge amount of attachment to the site. The stadium was built with private money in 1988 and turned over the Park Service, who was supposed to maintain it…and obviously they have challenges with capital and even maintenance budgets. So this site badly needs real investment, and so we've been working hard at figuring out how to do that and are hopeful we're going to have an answer to it or solution soon.
Thanks for reading Bounces! -Ben
Think it’s a nice move by him to give Dan Evans a wildcard after he wasn’t able to defend his title last year as he was playing Olympics with Andy in his final event
Would love to read a story sometime that's all about appearance fees. Do 500-level tournaments even need to give them out or can they count on attracting enough star power just because of the points that are up for grabs?