Start of the Cincinnati WTA 1000
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Cincinnati WTA 1000: Overview
The Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, will host the Cincinnati WTA 1000. With the US Open around the corner, it serves as the final major hard-court event.
There have been some changes to the oldest tournament in the US, and the third most followed event, which has seen an expansion in its draw. This year, we will see 96 single players take to the court and 32 double teams. Stay up to speed with the Cincinnati WTA 1000 by checking our livescore tool.
Regarding the prize pool and points, check the list below.
- First round: 10 ranking points and $11,270 awarded
- Second round: 35 ranking points and $18,200 awarded
- Third round: 65 ranking points and $32,840 awarded
- Round of 16: 120 ranking points and $56,678 awarded
- Quarter-finals: 215 ranking points and $106,900 awarded
- Semi-finals: 390 ranking points and $206,100 awarded
- Finalist: 650 ranking points and $391,600 awarded
- Champion: 1000 ranking points and $752,275 awarded
Aryna Sabalenka is out to defend her title
Aryna Sabalenka is a familiar name in the Cincinnati WTA 1000, having won this tournament last year. She defeated Jessica Pegula to secure the women's singles tennis title. What was more impressive about her performance was that she did not lose a set.
The 27-year-old Belarusian tennis player now returns to this tournament after a month of absence and is out to defend her title. This comes after she got eliminated from the Wimbledon semi-final.
Besides building confidence and asserting her dominance on hard courts, the World No. 1 also has a date in the US Open, where she is set to defend her title.
Players to watch out for in the Cincinnati WTA 1000
Coco Gauff has been slowly rising in the rankings and could be a threat to Aryna Sabalenka's defense of the title. Gauff is no stranger to the Cincinnati WTA 1000, having reached the final in 2023, defeating Karolina Muchova. This was marked down on paper as her first-ever crown.
Complementing Gauff is the third seed, Iga Swiatek. Swiatek is itching to get her hands on the title after suffering an early exit in Montreal. This year, she is aiming to reach the finals for the first time in her playing career. She came close to achieving this feat in the previous edition, where she got eliminated by Aryna Sabalenka.
Jessica Pegula is also another name that needs attention in this year's Cincinnati WTA 1000. Pegula is seeking redemption after a shocking elimination in the Canadian Open. The 31-year-old American and two-time champion was ousted in the third round by Anastasija Sevastova. Regarding her performance in the Cincinnati Open, she finished as a runner-up last year, losing the title to Aryna Sabalenka. In this competition, she has an 11-6 record.
An impressive addition to this year's tournament has to be wild card Venus Williams, who is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion. After a one-year absence from tennis, Williams left a lasting impression in her debut in the DC Open in July. There, she made history to become the oldest player to win both singles and a doubles match.
