The Washington Commanders' path to returning to nation's capital is clear after an on-again, off-again saga in Congress ended with a late reprieve.

A provision to transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia is no longer included in Congress’ short-term spending bill that lawmakers are racing to pass before a government shutdown.

The Washington Commanders are another step closer to the possibility of returning to the franchise’s old home in the nation’s capital.

WASHINGTON The hard-court tournament in the nations capital that was supposed to mark the official return of mens professional tennis amid the pandemic was scrapped Tuesday but the group in charge of the U.S. Open immediately said the tuneups cancellation in no way impacts its Grand Slam event. That is to be followed by the U.S. Open, where main-draw play is due to begin Aug. 31 without any spectators. The next Grand Slam tournament will be the clay-court French Open, which postponed its start from late May to late September because of the pandemic. After the ATP and Citi Open announced the decision to abandon plans to play this year, the U.S. Tennis Association put out a statement saying it understands the rationale behind that cancellation. The USTA's statement continued: This decision in no way impacts the U.S. Open or the Western & Southern Open.