Two top-10 stars withdraw from DC Open after coaching changes reshape hard-court plans
ATPFriday, 24 July 2026 at 22:00
The DC Open is already facing its first withdrawals on the men’s side, after it was confirmed that Daniil Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will officially not be part of the tournament.
Two significant absences, as both players were among the main candidates for the title. Felix was arriving as the first seed, but his recent split with his long-term coach Frederic Fontang changed his schedule plans, and he will delay his return to the hard courts until his home tournament at the Canadian Open.
Auger-Aliassime’s quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon — in a five-hour-plus battle against Novak Djokovic — ended with the departure of the coach who had worked with him since he was a child.
A similar situation occurred with Medvedev, who suffered a surprising third-round defeat at SW19 (in straight sets against Jan-Lennard Struff), which led to his split with Thomas Johansson after one year working together. The former world No. 1 decided to delay his return to the courts, creating another significant absence for the DC Open.
DC Open loses Auger-Aliassime and Medvedev ahead of hard-court swing
The DC Open is only a few days away from starting and has already announced its first significant withdrawals, with the absence of Auger-Aliassime (No. 4) and Medvedev (No. 7). Both players are looking to add preparation time while working with their respective new coaches ahead of arguably the most important part of the season in their calendars.
The hard-court tournaments and the end of the year have historically been key moments for Auger-Aliassime and Medvedev. Felix will defend more than half of his points from the season in the upcoming months and could drop several positions, highlighted by his run to the US Open semifinals and the Paris Masters final, as well as his title at the European Open.
Felix Auger-Aliassime played his first Masters 1000 final at Paris Masters but was defeated by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (4-6, 6-7).
Medvedev, meanwhile, has not had major appearances in North America recently, with just two victories and four defeats across his runs at the DC Open, Canadian Open, Cincinnati and US Open. However, historically he has been dangerous during this part of the season, winning titles at the Canadian Open, Cincinnati and US Open — including two additional finals at Flushing Meadows.
It could be a perfect opportunity for him to return to the top five and continue establishing himself as one of the main contenders alongside Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev in the battle for the top spots in the rankings and Grand Slam titles.
Three top-10 players remain in competitive DC Open draw
The departure of two of the three highest-ranked seeded players leaves a major gap in the draw, although it could give more prominence to the home players. As a result, only three of the five top-10 players initially confirmed will remain in the draw, in a tournament that looks highly competitive, with the presence of up to seven top-20 players and 12 top-30 players.
Defending champion Alex de Minaur (No. 6) will lead the draw, but his main contenders — at least based on ranking — are the Americans Ben Shelton (No. 8) and Taylor Fritz (No. 10).
Also standing out are Learner Tien (No. 26), Frances Tiafoe (No. 19) and Tommy Paul (No. 21) among the highest-ranked players, who could take advantage of home support to begin the US Open Series with a victory on home soil.
Since Andy Roddick’s triumph in 2007, only one American player has won the title in the last 17 editions: Sebastian Korda back in 2024, defeating Flavio Cobolli in the final.
Other notable names in the draw include former Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik (No. 17), former world No. 4 Lorenzo Musetti (No. 15). Also included are young players Arthur Fils (No. 22), Rafael Jodar (No. 23), as well as wildcard entries Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 50) and Jack Draper (No. 147).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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