Cincinnati 2026, Ohio, US - WTA 1000

[kskate2]

DATE: August 13 - 23, 2026
SURFACE: Hard
PRIZE MONEY: $6,900,000
FIELD SIZE: 128
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Iga Swiatek

Seeds:

1. Aryna Sabalenka
2. Elena Rybakina
3. Jessica Pegula
4. Coco Gauff
5. Mirra Andreeva
6. Linda Noskova
7. Iga Swiatek
8. Elina Svitolina
9. Amanda Anisimova
10. Marta Kostyuk
11. Naomi Osaka
12. Belinda Bencic
13. Iva Jovic
14. Diana Shnaider
15. Sorana Cirstea
16. Ekaterina Alexandrova
17. Alexandra Eala
18. Anna Kalinskaya
19. Maja Chwalinska
20. Madison Keys
21. Elise Merterns
22. Marie Bouzkova
23. Barbora Krejcikova
24. Anastasia Potopova
25. Emma Navarro
26. Elena Ostapenko
27. Clara Tauson
28. Ann Li
29. Maria Sakkari
30. Leylah Fernandez
31. Donna Vekic
32. Janice Tjen

The Tournament:

The Cincinnati Masters or Cincinnati Open (branded as the Western & Southern Open for sponsorship reasons) is an annual outdoor hardcourt tennis event held in Mason, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. The event started on September 18, 1899, and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States that is still played in its original city.

The tournament is the second largest summer tennis event in the U.S. after the US Open, as its men's event is one of the Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP Tour, and its women's event is one of the WTA 1000 events on the WTA Tour.

About Cincinnati:

Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line with Kentucky. The city is the economic and cultural hub of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. With an estimated population of 2,265,051, it is Ohio's largest metropolitan area and the nation's 30th-largest, and with a city population of 309,317, Cincinnati is the third-most populous city in Ohio after Columbus and Cleveland, and 65th in the United States. Throughout much of the 19th century, it was among the top 10 U.S. cities by population, surpassed only by New Orleans and the older, established settlements of the United States eastern seaboard, as well as being the sixth-most populous city from 1840 until 1860.

Tourism Video:

 

[kskate2]

The Draw:
WTA

 

[Hoergren]

Saw this match as I'm a bit curious to see how Venus Williams are playing today. Well it must be her merits from the past that enjoyed the public, because she didn't play well. Her oponent Emiliana Arango who currently is #90 played cool calm and collected and there were no doubt about her win - if she beats Swiatek in her next match will be interesting to see

 

[kskate2]

Vee won't let go. I only saw the first set and she was dismal out there. Error after error to the tune of double digits on FH alone in one set.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Vee won't let go. I only saw the first set and she was dismal out there. Error after error to the tune of double digits on FH alone in one set.

AP played worst than Vee.. It was a bad day at the office for both of them.. I dont think AP was SICK yesterday.. I never seen her just lay down without a fight. Her poor coach is gonna get the blame but its really between the ears. I think she needs to get a sports mental therapist,

 

[Murat B.]

Tournaments should stop treating these wild cards like lifetime achievement awards.

My girl Zeynep has to learn how to step it up in big moments.

 

[Hoergren]

Another fascinating match - which again was a bit hard for my nerves - well - because Clara Tauson won even if it looked quite hopeless - behind 1-4 in third set, but again cool calm and collected when it mattered

 

[Hoergren]

Higlights from Claras match

 

[Hoergren]

Seems I am lucky to view the LONGEST matches this tournament - but a bit exited too because they have been watchable matches. A monster - long - match between J.Tjen and V. Golubic 3 hours and 14 minutes before Tjen could secure the win - very few points separated these equal players

 

[the AntiPusher]

Poor Miss Lil Bit has run into an absolute BEAST in the Chinese # 3 player XiuY. Wang

 

[the AntiPusher]

Elina really has gotten stronger..she just saves 7 mps vs the young Checz.. I like watching her coach talking to her between sets while Gael just listen without interrupting . that is a team. I can see if she catches Saba on a bad day that she could upset her at the USO. I don't like the no handshake stance vs the Russian players but I would love to see her win a GS.. I think the USO and AO are her surfaces..

 

[kskate2]

Poor child will have nightmares tonight. She had 7 mp's and lost 6 of them on UE. Yikes.

 

[kskate2]

Elina really has gotten stronger..she just saves 7 mps vs the young Checz.. I like watching her coach talking to her between sets while Gael just listen without interrupting . that is a team. I can see if she catches Saba on a bad day that she could upset her at the USO. I don't like the no handshake stance vs the Russian players but I would love to see her win a GS.. I think the USO and AO are her surfaces..

I've already had my say on this and it hasn't changed. She's too up and down right now. She was bailed out tonight by someone who is still green. That won't happen against the top players.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Vee needs her butt spanked by Joe Jackson for double faulting at mp

 

[Fiero425]

Vee needs her butt spanked by Joe Jackson for double faulting at MP.

That was damn horrible after such a huge comeback in the Tie-Breaker! They were down 0-6 & 2-8 before Vee's DF at 8-9! Are they done?

 

[the AntiPusher]

That was damn horrible after such a huge comeback in the Tie-Breaker! They were down 0-6 & 2-8 before Vee's DF at 8-9! Are they done?

it was not horrible but it was not good.. the second set was much better .. I think Serena's bio break broke their momentum.. Yes it was a sloppy tbr but it was entertaining..

 

[the AntiPusher]

Miss Ebony Smooth Sloane really played good today but coming overcome the current in form player Marta. Good match

 

[Fiero425]

it was not horrible but it was not good.. the second set was much better .. I think Serena's bio break broke their momentum.. Yes it was a sloppy tbr but it was entertaining..

I'm being overly critical b/c I have a running issue of bestowing unlimited WC's to players who can't back up their "want" of being part of the tour when well "past it!" At least when Martina tried her hand at it, she stopped w/ Singles, concentrating on what she was able to do closing in on 50! She retired at the 2006 USO winning MxDubs. w/ Bryan! The Williams seem to want to at least surprise and shock the world by performing well into their 40's! The girls on tour are just too tough & good! The top players have to be on guard from round 2 these days! They have no respect for these old ladies even though pushed into a Super TB!

 

[kskate2]

Vee needs her butt spanked by Joe Jackson for double faulting at mp

Serena was the weak link last night. So many times she could have crossed and ended the point, she just let Vee keep hitting CC shots until she made an error or the net was taken away from them. Unacceptable. They should've been all over Stearns love offering of a serve.