Western & Southern Open Announces Standout Field

Written by: Staff on 16th July 2013

Western & Southern Open Announces Standout Field

epa03779312 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Andy Murray of Britain during the men's final for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 07 July 2013. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

The Western & Southern Open announced the strongest lineup in the tournament’s 114-year history featuring the top 44 ranked men and 35 of the top 36 ranked women competing for more than $6 million in prize money.

Between the men’s and women’s fields, 11 players who have been ranked No. 1 and 15 Grand Slam champions will be among those to assemble at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, located 20 miles north of Cincinnati, August 10-18, 2013.

Leading the men will be world No. 1, Novak Djokovic, who will attempt to be the first man in history to win the singles title at all nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events. A four-time finalist in Cincinnati but never a champion, Djokovic has captured each of the following Masters 1000 titles: Indian Wells, Madrid, Miami, Monte Carlo, Montreal/Toronto, Paris, Rome and Shanghai.

For Djokovic, making history will be no easy task. Reigning and record 5-time Cincinnati champion Roger Federer has the best winning percentage in Cincinnati of any active player at .811 (30-7). Two-time champion Andy Murray is fresh off his Wimbledon triumph and Rafael Nadal seeks his first title in the Queen City.

Since 2008, 12 different women have won at least one Grand Slam title, and 10 of those champions are entered. No. 1 Serena Williams, a 16-time Grand Slam champion, won this year’s French Open, but a Cincinnati title has remained elusive. World No. 2 Maria Sharapova, a two-time winner on Tour in 2013, will return and looks to add a second Cincinnati crown.

Defending champion Li Na of China leads a list of other WTA contenders. Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, who’s most recent major triumph came at the Australian Open, rising American Sloane Stephens, perennial threat Caroline Wozniacki and recently crowned Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli are among a host of women who have a chance to claim the title this year. Azarenka has rarely competed in Cincinnati.

The Western & Southern Open hosted 176,000 fans last year, recording a record 10 sellouts over the 16 total sessions spanning nine days. The event drew fans from all 50 states and 19 countries.

©Daily Tennis News Wire