Melanie Oudin, Tommy Haas & VIPs Play At P.O.V; W Washington, D.C. Serves Up Citi Open Player Party

NORTHWEST -- All eyes in the athletic world might now be squarely trained on the London Olympics, but Washington too will manage to steal some of the sporting spotlight this week, as the city's William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center plays host to the 2012 Citi Open.

NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green, ATP Tour player Tommy Haas, and Starwood’s Kaitlyn Ferrara.
Formerly called the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, the professional tennis tournament invites many of the world’s top-ranked players – several just coming off of breathtaking performances at the Wimbledon Championships earlier in the month – to compete in the District, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for local nonprofit: the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation.

Writer and philanthropist Susanna Quinn with Hilary Shaw.

Celebrity Makeup Artist Erwin Gomez, Wimbledon veteran Melanie Oudin, and ABC 7 anchor Pamela Brown.
Helping celebrate the start of this year’s competition, much as it has in prior years, the luxurious W Washington, D.C. hotel rolled-out its distinctive ‘Whatever/Whenever’ sense of hospitality to tournament supporters on Sunday evening, with an exclusive party dedicated to the players at the Citi Open.

ATP player Frantisek Cermak.
Both world-class ATP and WTA tennis stars began the night with a gourmet dinner inside the hotel’s ‘Altitude’ rooftop ballroom, with its gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the District.

And as the sun set over the neighboring monuments and the rather distinctive white house next door, guests gradually made their way across the hall to the hotel’s award-winning P.O.V rooftop lounge and terrace for a more lively late night party, fueled in no small part by sparkling glasses of Bombay Sapphire cocktails and chilled bottles of Corona beer.

CityZen Executive Chef Eric Ziebold and Sou'Wester Manager Celia Laurent.

ABC 7 anchor Autria Godfrey and sports reporter Britt McHenry.
But the star wattage in attendance during yesterday’s official ‘player party’ wasn’t limited strictly to on-court talent. To be sure, household names abounded throughout the event, with everyone from well known media personalities to Hall of Fame athletes to James Beard Award-winning chefs to prominent D.C. philanthropists spotted enjoying P.O.V’s panoramic views of the city.

ATP player Robby Ginepri.
An absolute grand slam of a good time.