Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1, and Serena Williams are the highlight of the Western & Southern Open’s illustrious competition. The WTA 1000 tournament will be held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, from August 13–21.
The entry list for this year includes five former winners. Along with Williams, other players who have won the title twice in 2020 and 2013 include Madison Keys (2019), Garbie Muguruza (2017), and Karolina Pliskova (2016).
There are another 13 significant champions on the list. Along with Swiatek, Williams, Azarenka, and Muguruza, other players travelling to the Queen City include Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, and Jelena Ostapenko, Barbora Krejcikova, and Angelique Kerber. Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, and Naomi Rybakina are also expected. The full entry list of the tournament can be seen at the official site of WTA.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner was out in the first round only at this year’s Wimbledon Championships against Harmony Tan. The player, who returned after almost a year continues her comeback and has chosen to use her protected ranking to enter the main draw at the National Bank Open in Toronto from August 6–14.
Williams, the oldest competitor in both the men’s and women’s fields this year, has twice in her career won the Cincinnati tournament, in 2014 and 2015, and finished second in 2013.