WTA Mubadala DC Open 2026: Dates, Schedule, Prize Money, Entry List & More

The summer tennis season is turning up the heat! After weeks of smaller WTA 250 competitions across the globe, the North American hard-court swing is officially moving into high gear. Leading the charge is the Mubadala DC Open, a premier WTA 500 event hosted in the heart of the United States capital.

This tournament is much more than just another stop on the tennis tour. It serves as a vital proving ground for top-tier players preparing for the upcoming WTA 1000 tournaments and, ultimately, the final Grand Slam of the year: the US Open. Featuring three former Washington champions and four Grand Slam winners, this year’s tournament promises non-stop action, dramatic match-ups, and incredible tennis.

Here is your complete guide to the Mubadala DC Open, covering dates, draw details, star players, defending champions, ranking points, and prize money.

1. Tournament Dates and Schedule

The tournament takes place at the famous Rock Creek Park Tennis Center located in northwest Washington, D.C. Main-draw action begins on Monday, July 27, following qualifying matches over the weekend. The tournament wraps up on Sunday, August 2, with the singles final.

To help you keep track of every match, here is how the competition unfolds day by day:

Singles Schedule

First Round: Monday, July 27 – Tuesday, July 28
Second Round: Wednesday, July 29 – Thursday, July 30
Quarterfinals: Friday, July 31
Semifinals: Saturday, August 1
Final: Sunday, August 2 (Not before 2:30 p.m. EST)

Doubles Schedule

First Round: Monday, July 27 – Tuesday, July 28
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, July 29 – Thursday, July 30
Semifinals: Friday, July 31
Final: Saturday, August 1 (Scheduled for 12:00 p.m. EST)

2. Main Draw and Star-Studded Field

The Mubadala DC Open features a 28-player singles draw. Because of the draw size, the top four seeded players receive a bye directly into the second round, giving them a slight advantage and an extra day of rest or preparation.

The 28 slots in the singles draw are distributed as follows:

20 Direct Entrants: Players who qualified automatically based on their world ranking.
4 Wild Cards: Special invitations granted by tournament directors to fan favorites or top talent.
4 Qualifiers: Players who earned their spot through weekend qualifying rounds.

Star Competitors to Watch

Leading the pack in Washington is Jessica Pegula, the World No. 3 and the 2019 Washington champion. Playing on home soil in her nation’s capital, Pegula enters as the top seed. Joining her in the field are two other past Washington champions: Leylah Fernandez (the 2025 winner) and Liudmila Samsonova (the 2022 winner).

The tournament also boasts impressive depth with top 10 star Elina Svitolina alongside four Grand Slam champions:

Naomi Osaka (4-time Grand Slam champion)
Madison Keys (Grand Slam finalist and former top-10 player)
Venus Williams (7-time Grand Slam singles champion receiving a wild card)
Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open champion receiving a wild card)

Key Roster Updates: Entrants, Wild Cards, and Alternates

Category	Players
Top Seeded Players	Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina
Direct Entrants	Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka, Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya, Madison Keys, Leylah Fernandez, Clara Tauson, Emma Navarro, Anastasia Potapova, Ann Li, Alexandra Eala, Cristina Bucsa, Xinyu Wang, Liudmila Samsonova, Janice Tjen
Wild Cards	Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Qinwen Zheng
Players Moved In	Magdalena Frech, Sara Bejlek, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Magda Linette
Key Withdrawals	Marta Kostyuk, Iva Jovic, Jasmine Paolini, Katerina Siniakova, Jaqueline Cristian
Next Alternates	Katie Boulter, Shuai Zhang, Daria Kasatkina, Kamilla Rakhimova

3. Defending Champions: A Look Back

Understanding who is on top requires looking at last year’s dominant performances.

Singles Title Holder: Leylah Fernandez

In 2025, Canadian star Leylah Fernandez captured the fourth WTA singles title of her career in emphatic fashion. Entering the tournament ranked World No. 36, Fernandez delivered a dominant performance in the final, overpowering Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 in just 1 hour and 9 minutes.

Fernandez made history by becoming the very first Canadian player to win the Washington singles title. Her run was impressive, beating top players such as Maya Joint, Jessica Pegula, Taylor Townsend, and Elena Rybakina. The victory ended a title drought for Fernandez, whose previous tournament win had been in Hong Kong in 2023.

Reflecting on her performance, Fernandez shared:

“I was very happy with the way that I held my nerves. I was definitely very nervous in the beginning, but I got to play my game in the important points and push through those nerves, so I was super happy about that.”

Doubles Title Holders

In the doubles division, the duo of Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang delivered a masterclass in the final. They sped past the pair of Sofia Kenin and Caroline Dolehide with a score of 6-1, 6-1 to take home the doubles trophy.

4. Prize Money and Ranking Points Breakdown

Competing in Washington is not only about trophies and glory—it also offers significant financial rewards and crucial world ranking points. A total prize purse of $1,637,982 is up for grabs across all events.

Because the Mubadala DC Open is a WTA 500 event, the champion in both singles and doubles earns 500 ranking points in the PIF WTA Rankings and the Race to the WTA Finals. These points are vital for players aiming to improve their seeding ahead of the US Open or secure a spot in the year-end finals.

Here is the full breakdown of prize money and ranking points earned round by round:

Singles Breakdown

Round	Ranking Points	Prize Money (USD)
First Round	1 point	$17,440
Second Round	60 points	$24,474
Quarterfinal	108 points	$90,900
Semifinal	195 points	$90,900
Finalist	325 points	$155,000
Champion	500 points	$252,000

Doubles Breakdown

Round	Ranking Points	Prize Money (USD)
First Round	1 point	$9,210
Quarterfinal	108 points	$15,140
Semifinal	195 points	$29,490
Finalist	325 points	$50,790
Champion	500 points	$83,500

5. Why the Washington DC Open Matters So Much

The Mubadala DC Open holds a special spot on the WTA calendar for several reasons:

Transition to Hard Courts: After months playing on clay and grass, players must adapt their footwork, timing, and strategy to hard courts. Washington gives them their first major taste of outdoor hard-court conditions in late summer heat.
US Open Preparation: Because the US Open is played on fast hard courts in similar summer weather, success in Washington builds momentum and confidence.
Crucial Seeding Points: Earning up to 500 points can lift a player into a higher seed bracket for upcoming WTA 1000 tournaments in Toronto/Montreal and Cincinnati, as well as the US Open itself.
Fan-Favorite Tradition: Washington D.C. has hosted top-tier tennis for decades, providing high energy, intimate stadium atmospheres, and enthusiastic crowds at Rock Creek Park.

Whether you are cheering for returning champions like Jessica Pegula and Leylah Fernandez, keeping an eye on Grand Slam legends like Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka, or tracking rising talents, the Mubadala DC Open is packed with world-class entertainment from start to finish!