by Julie Young, Weekly View Contributor
They are the crème de la crème of the tennis world: Novak Djokovich, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, and Victoria Azarenka among others and they are set to descend on the Midwest for the Western & Southern Open August 15-23 at the Linder Family Tennis Center.
“We are thrilled to announce the best players in tennis, from both the women’s and men’s tours, are coming to Cincinnati in just a few weeks,” said Tournament Director and COO Vince Cicero. “Our event has become a ‘must-play’ tournament for the players, and a ‘must-attend’ event for tennis fans from all over the globe.”
Located just minutes from Kings Island, the Linder Family Tennis Center is no ordinary venue and the Western & Southern Open is no ordinary tournament. Known as the Cincinnati Masters, it is the oldest professional tennis tournament in the nation that is still held in its city of origin. Since 1899, the champions that have held the title read like a Who’s Who of tennis royalty and this event gives fans the best chance to get up close and personal with many of their favorites.
One star to keep an eye on at this year’s tournament is defending women’s champion and world Number One Serena Williams. The 21-time Grand Slam Champion just completed her second “Serena Slam” in July at Wimbledon and is the favorite to take home the trophy not only at the Western & Southern Open but also at the U.S. Open in September. If she wins, she will not only tie Steffi Graf’s record of 22 career Grand Slam titles, she will be the first woman since Graf to win a calendar Grand Slam. (Hold all four major tennis titles in a calendar year.)
Although she recently sustained an elbow injury, Williams said she is feeling good, playing her best tennis and is having a good time. She said she’s had really good experiences in Cincinnati and is always happy to be back.
“Whenever you are winning you’re having fun…and I had a fun time,” she said, noting that Cincinnati has a lot to offer visitors. “You can go here or you can go over to the amusement park. There are a lot of things to do.”
If you’re looking for a getaway that’s not far away, spend a day at the courts enjoying the Western & Southern Open. Ticket prices start at $10 for qualifying events and $30 for the main draw. For more information, visit www.cincytennis.com
