McNally's D.C. singles run ends; wins doubles trophy with Gauff

At just 17 years old, everything had gone right for Caty McNally at the Citi Open this week, putting her name on the pro map. On Saturday, her Cinderella run came to a halt as Camila Giorgi stopped her, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

McNally, who ended her 2018 season ranked No. 682, had never won a main-draw match until this week—her fourth tour-level event. At Wimbledon, she qualified for her first major, losing in the first round to local favorite Heather Watson. Following the grass-court Slam, her ranking shot up to career-high No. 146.

After posting her first career Top 50 victory by stunning 31-ranked Hsieh Su-wei in the previous round, the Cincinnati, OH native started slow, winning just two of the first 14 points. She had trouble neutralizing Giorgi’s power, but she soon settled in as she found ways to break the 27-year-old Italian’s rhythm.

After stepping up in the tiebreaker, Giorgi carried the momentum over to take control of the second set. Despite McNally’s impressive defensive skills, the two-time WTA titlist never looked back, closing out the match in straight sets.

Giorgi started the year ranked in the Top 30 but has now fallen to No. 62. Before entering Washington, she hadn't won a match since reaching the third round of the Australian Open, partially due to ankle and wrist injuries that eventually forced her away for three months after the Miami Open.

“It was a great match today, was all matches” said Giorgi after her win over the teen. “Was very, very intense this week, so was fun.”

Later in the afternoon, McNally returned to the court, this time with fellow teen Cori “Coco” Gauf to contest their first professional doubles final, winning it, 6-2, 6-2, over Fanny Stollar and Maria Sancheza. Last year, the American teens won the girls’ doubles trophy at US Open.

"I really enjoy playing with Caty," Gauff said. "I feel like she really knows doubles. I learned a lot from her on the court. I remember the first tournament we played together, the US Open juniors, and I learned so much at doubles in that one week than I could have in my whole life. So, thanks, Caty!" Gauff laughed.

McNally also had good things to say about her friend’s game.

"Coco has a big game, huge serve, big groundstrokes from the baseline, so I think that helps me at the net," said McNally. "I'm able to poach, that's where I like to be. I think we just get along really well -- not just our games, but off the court. I think that helps too because we bring a lot of energy -- if one person's down, we pump the other one up."

In Sunday's final, Giorgi will take on American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Anna Kalinskaya, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.