[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 118 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE 49TH CITI OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing the Citi Open Tennis 
Tournament, taking place July 29 through August 6, 2017, in Rock Creek 
Park, and in recognizing these dates as ``Tennis Week in the District 
of Columbia.'' All are invited to attend the 49th edition of this 
Washington tennis tradition, a cultural, economic and community staple 
in the region.
  The tournament, now known as the Citi Open Tennis Tournament, was 
founded in 1969 by tennis legend and Hall of Famer Donald Dell, along 
with business partner John Harris, and with the support of Arthur Ashe, 
the first African-American to win both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. 
Ashe declared he would participate in the inaugural tournament under 
two conditions: the tournament would take place in a naturally 
integrated neighborhood, and it would be played on public land where 
all people could come together, enjoy the sport and share the 
experience. Today, the tournament remains at its original location on 
16th & Kennedy Streets NW., in Rock Creek Park.
  In 1972, Donald Dell gifted the tournament to the Washington Tennis & 
Education Foundation (then called the Washington Area Tennis Patrons), 
a nonprofit organization supporting local education causes.
  The Citi Open Tennis Tournament draws the best players in the world, 
making D.C. a global tennis destination. The tournament is also seen on 
television in over 180 countries. A recent economic impact study found 
that the estimated total gross impact of the Citi Open on the regional 
economy is more than $28.2 million. The tournament is the only 
Association of Tennis Professionals 500-level event in the United 
States, and it is one of only four professional tennis tournaments 
combining men's and women's events. It is also recognized as an 
International level tournament by the Women's Tennis Association. As 
the tournament returns to the District this year, the city and our 
office will be working with residents of the neighborhood to ensure 
that measures are taken to mitigate traffic in the area and that the 
beautiful residential neighborhood of the tournament's location is 
undisturbed.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
recognizing ``Tennis Week in the District of Columbia'' for the Citi 
Open Tennis Tournament, as well as the Washington Tennis & Education 
Foundation for their efforts.

                          ____________________