As the tennis world converges on Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, the spotlight isn’t just on the courts at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. British sensation Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has set social media ablaze with a vibrant Instagram photodump showcasing a mouthwatering meal that left fellow tennis star Nick Kyrgios hungry for more. “I need to know,” Kyrgios commented on her post, echoing the curiosity of fans captivated by Raducanu’s off-court charm during the WTA 500 event, which runs from July 19 to July 27. As Raducanu prepares to face Marta Kostyuk in singles and team up with Elena Rybakina in doubles, her culinary flair and playful social media presence are adding a fresh flavor to the tournament’s electric atmosphere.
Raducanu’s Instagram post, a colorful collage of her D.C. adventures, featured a tantalizing spread of gourmet dishes, including artisanal flatbreads, vibrant salads, and decadent desserts, enjoyed at one of the city’s renowned eateries. The images, interspersed with snapshots of her training and exploring the capital, showcased her ability to balance intense preparation with a zest for life. Kyrgios, a two-time Citi Open champion known for his own flair for the dramatic, couldn’t resist chiming in, his “I need to know” comment sparking a flurry of fan reactions. “Emma’s out here living her best life while Nick’s just craving the recipe!” one fan quipped on X, capturing the lighthearted buzz surrounding the exchange. The post, shared on July 21, came as Raducanu gears up for her third appearance at the tournament, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2024.
The Citi DC Open, the only combined ATP-WTA 500-level event, is a star-studded affair, with Raducanu joined by heavyweights like Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Venus Williams, who is making a stunning return after a 16-month hiatus. Raducanu’s singles campaign kicks off against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, a formidable opponent, while her doubles partnership with Rybakina, fresh off a third-round Wimbledon exit, promises to be a highlight. Kyrgios, competing in doubles with Gael Monfils, is also back after a wrist injury sidelined him for much of the past two seasons. “Playing in Washington, D.C., means the world to me,” Kyrgios said, reflecting on his 2019 and 2022 title runs. His return, alongside Raducanu’s presence, has fans buzzing, with ticket sales breaking records for the fifth consecutive year.
Raducanu’s journey in 2025 has been one of resurgence. After a stellar quarterfinal run at the Miami Open and a fourth-round appearance in Rome, she faced setbacks, including a back injury that forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open and a straight-sets loss to Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon. “Truthfully, I don’t expect much from myself this year. I know I’ve just been dealing with certain things,” she admitted before Wimbledon, showcasing her candid approach to her challenges. Yet, her decision to team up with Rybakina drew praise from Kyrgios, who posted on X, “Raducanu and Rybakina in doubles is gonna be 🔥,” a sentiment that underscores the excitement around their partnership against Britain’s Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova on July 22.
The Citi Open’s intimate setting, where players mingle with fans in the cozy confines of Rock Creek Park, amplifies its unique appeal. “It’s good and bad,” local star Frances Tiafoe once noted about the close fan interaction, a sentiment echoed by Kyrgios, who thrives on the crowd’s energy. In 2022, he delighted spectators by asking a fan where to serve on match point, a tradition he started during his 2019 title run. “I think it’s just a cool experience for someone that’s paid money to come watch you play,” he said then. Raducanu, too, has embraced the tournament’s vibe, her 2022 debut marked by a 6-4, 6-2 win over Louisa Chirico. “It felt really good,” she said of that victory, which saw her adapt to the humid conditions with impressive groundstrokes.
Off the court, Raducanu’s photodump reflects her growing ease in the spotlight. Her friendship with Kyrgios, which began during her 2021 US Open triumph, has been a source of mutual support. “He was supporting me after Wimbledon last year, before the US Open, so the way he’s been with me, yeah, he’s been really nice,” she said in 2022, defending her public backing of Kyrgios amid controversy. Their playful banter, from her magic wand emoji tweet during his 2022 Wimbledon run to his recent Instagram comment, highlights a camaraderie that resonates with fans. Meanwhile, Kyrgios’s own journey, marked by a 2022 singles and doubles title sweep at the Citi Open, adds anticipation to his return. “I love this court, I’ve played so many good matches here,” he said after his 2022 triumph.
As Raducanu and Kyrgios bring their star power to D.C., the tournament promises a blend of fierce competition and off-court charisma. With Raducanu’s culinary tease stealing headlines and Kyrgios’s flair set to ignite the doubles court, the Citi DC Open is shaping up as a feast for tennis fans—both figuratively and, thanks to Raducanu’s photodump, perhaps literally.
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