British tennis players have not been particularly successful at the Washington Open since the tournament was first introduced in 1969.
Since 1969, players from 16 different nations have won the men’s singles title.
Thomaz Koch, from Brazil, won the first edition of the Washington Open, beating Arthur Ashe in the final.
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Australia’s Alex de Minaur added his name to the Washington honour roll 56 years later when he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the 2025 final.
Of the 56 men’s singles champions in Washington, only two have been British.
Tim Henman and Dan Evans are the only British players to have won Washington Open singles titles
Until 2003, no British player had reached the final of a Washington Open singles event; let alone win a title.
Tim Henman became the first man to do so in 2003 after beating Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Henman, the former world number four, went on to defeat future Olympic silver medalist, Fernando Gonzalez, in the final.
It was Henman’s 10th career title and his first since January 2002.
“I lost a couple of finals in the United States, so I was keen to get a win on American soil and my 10th title,” Henman, who won 6-3, 6-4, told BBC Sport afterwards.
“So it’s a special day for me. I didn’t arrive here until Sunday and it wasn’t the ideal preparation, but it was just a question of getting acclimatised and getting used to these courts.
“And obviously with the result today, I’ve done it pretty well.”
Around 20 years later, Dan Evans added his name to the list of Washington Open champions.
The Briton defeated Frances Tiafoe, Grigor Dimitrov and Tallon Griekspoor en route to the title.
“I wasn’t playing very well and I wasn’t happy with my game. To do the work I’ve done and to stick with it and come through is [amazing],” Evans remarked after beating Griekspoor 7-5, 6-3 in the final.
“The last game sort of summed up my week. I got out of trouble and it was an amazing week. I really appreciate all the support.”
The British players competing in Washington this year
There are only two players competing in the singles events at this year’s Washington Open.
Jack Draper is the sole British representative in the men’s singles draw. Draper, the former world number four, will look to get back on track after another injury-hit campaign.
Draper is set to play home favourite Alex Michelsen in the first round.
Katie Boulter will fly the flag for Britain in the women’s draw.
The British star, who won her fourth WTA Tour title earlier this year, will play against wildcard Ashlyn Krueger in the first round.
