Washington, DC, USA, 18 July 2016 | tennis.com.au

Sam Stosur kicks off her North American hardcourt swing as the top seed at this week’s Citi Open in Washington DC.

Stosur reached the semifinals at last year’s event and this year opens her campaign against qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva.

> view the WTA Washington main draw

A second-round battle looms against the unseeded Caroline Wozniacki, and should the seeds hold, the Queenslander would face No.8 seed Monica Niculescu of Romania.

Sloane Stephens, who beat Stosur in the 2015 semis, is the tournament’s No.2 seed.

In the concurrent men’s event, five Aussies will take to the hardcourts of the ATP 500-level event.

Leading the charge is Bernard Tomic, who is seeded third; the Aussie enjoys a first-round bye and in his opening match faces the winner of the all-American battle between Donald Young and qualifier Ernesto Escobdeo.

Lurking as a potential third-round opponent is last week’s Newport champion and 13th seed Ivo Karlovic.

> view the ATP Washington main draw

John Millman and James Duckworth have landed in the top eighth of the draw.

Duckworth, a qualifier, faces local Tim Smyczek for a shot at top seed John Isner, while Millman will take on another American, Denis Kudla, and would progress to a second-round meeting with 15th seed Marco Baghdatis if victorious.

Sam Groth has fallen in Tomic’s eighth of the draw; the Aussie faces comeback player Brian Baker of the United States, with the winner to meet Karlovic.

Jordan Thompson is the only Aussie who doesn’t begin against an American.

The Sydneysider faces Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic in round one, and should he progress he would meet 11th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov.