W&S Open field stronger than ever


What: Western & Southern Open

When: Aug. 10-18

Where: Lindner Family Tennis Center

Ticket info: www.cincytennis.com

As one of only five Masters 1000 events in the world with combined men’s and women’s events, the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament routinely attracts a top-notch field.

The W&S Open has outdone itself this year.

Tournament officials announced on Monday the strongest lineup in the tournament’s 114-year history. The event, scheduled for Aug. 10-18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, will feature the top 44 ranked men and 35 of the top 36 ranked women in the world.

“It’s everything we could have hoped for,” tournament director Vince Cicero said. “This is the most powerful lineup of players that’s ever competed as the tournament.”

The men’s and women’s fields will feature 15 Grand Slam champions and 11 players who have been ranked No. 1 in the world.

Headlining the men’s field is the Big Four — top-ranked Novak Djokovic, defending W&S Open champ Roger Federer, Wimbledon champ Andy Murray and French Open champ Rafael Nadal. The foursome has dominated the men’s game for the last eight years, combining to win the last 15 Grand Slams and 33 of the last 34.

“We’re going to look back as this as a special time in tennis,” Cicero said. “You’ve got four hall of famers competing every day trading championships amongst themselves.”

Former top-10 player Jimmy Arias, who was on hand for Monday’s field announcement at the Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati, took it a step further.

“The top four guys are the best four players that have ever played,” said Arias, now a commentator for ESPN International and the Tennis Channel. “The old guys who say we could’ve played with them — no way, they’re wrong. These guys are better than any of us ever were or hoped to be. They’re just incredible athletes as well as great players.”

A four-time W&S Open finalist, Djokovic would become the first man in history to win the singles title at all nine ATP World Tour Masters 100 events with a win at the W&S Open. The eight that he’s won are Indian Wells, Madrid, Miami, Monte Carlo, Montreal/Toronto, Paris, Rome and Shanghai.

The women’s game has had much more parity of late — 12 different Grand Slam champions since 2008. Ten of those 12 are in the W&S Open field.

Serena Williams, a 16-time Grand Slam champ, headlines the list. Williams, who won the French Open this year, has never won a W&S Open title. Also in the field are Australian Open champ Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli and Maria Sharapova, the second-ranked player in the world, rising American Sloane Stephens, former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and defending champ Li Na.

This will be the third year for the combined men’s and women’s event, joining Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome as the other non-Grand Slams with that distinction.

“I remember this tournament as almost like a fifth major when I was playing,” Arias said. “That fact that they’ve added the women … it’s just gotten better and better over the years.”

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