FOUR PAST CHAMPIONS AMONG WTA ENTRIES FOR
2018 WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN
CINCINNATI (July 9, 2018) — The champions of the last four editions of the Western & Southern Open – Serena Williams (2014-15), Karolina Pliskova (2016) and Garbiñe Muguruza – lead a field of entries for the 2018 tournament that includes all players in the Top 37 of the of the WTA Rankings.
The entry list of 39 players from 21 nations includes 16 players who have won a combined 26 titles so far this season. These initial entrants are the start of the 56-player field that will compete in the WTA Premier 5 tournament August 11-19 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
“This is a very strong field with all of the top WTA players having entered,” said Tournament Director Andre Silva. “The past 18 months have really shown the depth of the WTA with so many different players coming through to win big titles. The strength of the field means we can look forward to exciting matches all week long when these stars come to the Western & Southern Open.”
The field includes eight players who have held the WTA’s No. 1 ranking, including reigning No. 1 Simona Halep along with defending champion Muguruza, Pliskova, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and 2011 Cincinnati champion Maria Sharapova. The Western & Southern Open women’s final in both 2016 and 2017 included a player who could have ascended to No. 1 by winning the title.
Here is a look at the initial 39 entries into the Western & Southern Open:
Rank Player (Country) Age • Quick Facts
1) Simona Halep (Romania) 26 • 2018 French Open champion, 2017 W&S Open finalist
2) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 27 • 2018 Australian Open champion
3) Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain) 24 • 2017 Wimbledon champion, 2017 W&S Open champion
4) Sloane Stephens (USA) 25 • 2017 US Open champion, 2017 W&S Open semifinalist
5) Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 23 • Winner of three WTA titles in 2018, 23-year-old is youngest in Top 10
6) Caroline Garcia (France) 24 • In 2017 won titles at Premier 5 Wuhan and Premier Mandatory Beijing
7) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 26 • Winner of WTA-leading five titles in 2018
8) Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 26 • 2016 W&S Open champion
9) Venus Williams (USA) 38 • Seven-time Major champion
10) Angelique Kerber (Germany) 30 • Two-time Major champion, Two-time W&S Open finalist
11) Madison Keys (USA) 23 • 2017 US Open finalist, 2018 French Open semifinalist
12) Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) 21 • 2017 French Open champion
13) Julia Goerges (Germany) 29 • 2017 W&S Open quarterfinalist
14) Daria Kasatkina (Russia) 21 • Finalist at Premier Mandatory Indian Wells in 2018
15) Elise Mertens (Belgium) 22 • Winner of three titles in 2018
16) CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) 26 • 2017 US Open semifinalist
17) Ashleigh Barty (Australia) 22 • Nominee for WTA June Player of the Month
18) Naomi Osaka (Japan) 20 • Winner of Premier Mandatory Indian Wells in 2018
19) Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 29 • Three of four career titles have been in US
20) Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) 26 • Winner of three titles since last May
21) Anastasia Sevastova (Latvia) 28 • 2016 and 2017 US Open quarterfinalist
22) Maria Sharapova (Russia) 31 • Five-time Major champion, 2011 W&S Open champion
23) Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) 32 • Reached one semifinal and two quarterfinals in 2018
24) Johanna Konta (Great Britain) 27 • 2017 W&S Open quarterfinalist
25) Daria Gavrilova (Australia) 24 • Two-time semifinalist in 2018
26) Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 29 • 2018 Australian Open quarterfinalist
27) Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) 22 • Two-time semifinalist in 2018
28) Mihaela Buzarnescu (Romania) 30 • Two-time finalist in 2018
29) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 26 • Three titles since last April
30) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 28 • Winner of 20 career WTA titles
31) Zhang Shuai (China) 29 • Reached quarterfinals or better in three 2018 events
32) Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 20 • Two-time finalist in 2018
33) Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 29 • 2016 WTA Finals champion
34) Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 29 • Winner of one title in 2018
35) Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 30 • Six-time Major quarterfinalist
36) Irina-Camelia Begu (Romania) 27 • Two-time semifinalist in 2018
37) Maria Sakkari (Greece) 22 • Semifinalist at Premier 5 Wuhan in 2017
62) Kristina Mladenovic (France) 25 • Five-time finalist in last two seasons
181) Serena Williams* (USA) 36 • 23-time Major champion, Two-time W&S Open champion
*Williams has entered with a protected ranking of No. 1, the ranking she held prior to stepping away from tennis in early 2017 before giving birth to her daughter last September.
As many as five wild cards may be awarded to join the field alongside these 39 players. In addition, 12 players will earn entry through the two-round qualifying tournament that will be held Aug. 11-12 in Mason.
The WTA event is held concurrently with an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. The Western & Southern Open men’s field will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the 2018 Western & Southern Open are on sale now, including for areas of the brand new South Building which has been constructed between Center and Grandstand Courts. Packages available in the new building include the First Financial 1899 Room featuring enclosed box seats that are air conditioned with a full service restaurant and bar, and the All-Inclusive level which offers outdoor seating along with a buffet and bar service that is included in the ticket. Tickets are available at www.shop.cincytennis.com.
