The Western and Southern Open begins Sunday with qualifying rounds. The ATP Masters 1000 tournament, held in Cincinnati, is the last major tune-up before the U.S. Open. The women's event is held simultaneously. Here are ten things to know about the event.
Americans have done well at this event. In spite of Europeans having won the last five years, Americans have won 10 of the last 20 tournaments. Multiple winners include Andy Roddick (2003 and 2006), Andre Agassi (1995, 1996 and 2004), Pete Sampras (1992, 1997 and 1999) and Michael Chang (1993 and 1994). Top players Jimmy Connors (1972) and John McEnroe (1981) also won in Cincinnati.
Lindner Family Tennis Center, in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, plays host to the Western and Southern Open. Center Court at this venue seats more than 11,000 tennis fans.
Andy Murray and Roger Federer have owned this tournament in recent years. Murray won in 2008 and 2011 while Federer won in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Television coverage this year will be split between three networks. Tennis Channel has the early rounds before turning things over to ESPN2. The final will be televised by CBS on August 19.
Nine of the last ten winners in Cincinnati have held the #1 ranking at some point in their careers. Only Andy Murray (career high of #2) has not held the top spot.
Last year's doubles champions of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes also won the event in 2001. Top Americans Bob and Mike Bryan won the event in 2003, 2008 and 2010.
Andy Roddick leads this year's seeded players with 29 career wins in Cincinnati. Roddick is 29-9 in the tournament with two titles.
For Novak Djokovic, Cincinnati was one of the few tournaments he did not win in 2011. Djokovic lost to Andy Murray 6-4, 3-0, ret. in the final a year ago. With three appearances in the final (2008, 2009 and 2011), Djokovic still lacks a title in Cincinnati.
John Isner is this year's top seeded American at #9. Isner has not done particularly well in Cincinnati. He's 3-5 and has not made it past of the round of 32. #10 seed Mardy Fish has fared better. Fish was runner-up here in 2003 and 2010.
Rafael Nadal is not playing in Cincinnati this year. The Spanish great withdrew last week citing tendonitis in his left knee, the same ailment that kept him out of the London Olympics.
Brad Boeker has been a fan of professional tennis since the 1970s. He coaches high school tennis in Illinois.
