2019 Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) - WTA Thread

[Enceladus]

Defending champion: Kiki Bertens

Former Western & Southern Open champions, who will participating in the 2019 tournament: Serena Williams (2014-15), Maria Sharapova (2011), Victoria Azarenka (2013), Karolina Pliskova (2016), Garbine Muguruza (2017)

Official website:

Western & Southern Open | Cincinnati, OH

The Western & Southern Open will take place in Cincinnati, OH from August 10 - 18th, 2019.

www.wsopen.com

Draw: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Western_&_Southern_Open_–_Women's_Singles#Draw
Point distribution:

2019 Western & Southern Open - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Prize money:

2019 Western & Southern Open - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Edition: 91st edition of women's singles and 52nd in Open era
Date: August 12 – 18
Category: WTA Premier 5
Draw: 56S
Surface: Hard
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center
TV broadcasts: ESPN2, Tennis Channel

Entry list:
Main Draw
1 Barty, Ashleigh (AUS)
2 Osaka, Naomi (JPN)
3 Pliskova, Karolina (CZE)
4 Bertens, Kiki (NED)
5 Kerber, Angelique (GER)
6 Kvitova, Petra (CZE)
7 Halep, Simona (ROU)
8 Svitolina, Elina (UKR)
9 Stephens, Sloane (USA)
10 Williams, Serena (USA)
11 Sabalenka, Aryna (BLR)
12 Sevastova, Anastasija (LAT)
13 Bencic, Belinda (SUI)
14 Vondrousova, Marketa (CZE)
15 Wang, Qiang (CHN)
16 Keys, Madison (USA)
17 Goerges, Julia (GER)
18 Konta, Johanna (GBR)
19 Wozniacki, Caroline (DEN)
20 Kontaveit, Anett (EST)
21 Mertens, Elise (BEL)
22 Vekic, Donna (CRO)
23 Garcia, Caroline (FRA)
24 Martic, Petra (CRO)
25 Andreescu, Bianca (CAN)
26 Anisimova, Amanda (USA)
27 Muguruza, Garbiñe (ESP)
28 Kenin, Sofia (USA)
29 Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE)
30 Kasatkina, Daria (RUS)
31 Suárez Navarro, Carla (ESP)
32 Sakkari, Maria (GRE)
33 Tsurenko, Lesia (UKR)
34 Collins, Danielle (USA)
35 Yastremska, Dayana (UKR)
36 Sasnovich, Aliaksandra (BLR)
37 Ostapenko, Jelena (LAT)
38 Siniakova, Katerina (CZE)
39 Putintseva, Yulia (KAZ)
40 Azarenka, Victoria (BLR)
42 Giorgi, Camila (ITA)
43 Zheng, Saisai (CHN)
43 Bellis, Catherine (USA) SR

Alternates
44 Williams, Venus (USA)
45 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
47 Kuzmova, Viktoria (SVK)
48 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)

Qualifying Draw
32 Strycova, Barbora (CZE)
35 Zhang, Shuai (CHN)
37 Riske, Alison (USA)
43 Tomljanovic, Ajla (AUS)
44 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia (RUS)
45 Puig, Monica (PUR)
48 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
49 Kuzmova, Viktoria (SVK)
50 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)
52 Wang, Yafan (CHN)
53 Cornet, Alize (FRA)
54 Hercog, Polona (SLO)
55 Kudermetova, Veronika (RUS)
57 Gasparyan, Margarita (RUS)
58 Buzarnescu, Mihaela (ROU)
59 Jabeur, Ons (TUN)
60 Linette, Magda (POL)
61 Swiatek, Iga (POL)
64 Potapova, Anastasia (RUS)
65 Rybakina, Elena (KAZ)
67 Kozlova, Kateryna (UKR)
68 Kanepi, Kaia (EST)
69 Golubic, Viktorija (SUI)
70 Peterson, Rebecca (SWE)
71 Maria, Tatjana (GER)
73 Davis, Lauren (USA)
74 Pera, Bernarda (USA)
76 Brady, Jennifer (USA)

Alternates
77 Petkovic, Andrea (GER)
79 Pegula, Jessica (USA)
86 Diyas, Zarina (KAZ)
89 Teichmann, Jil (SUI)
90 Mattek-Sands, Bethanie (USA) SR
94 Pliskova, Kristyna (CZE)

 

[I Am Finnish]

Ostapenko - Putintseva

 

[fundrazer]

Mugu has Keys in the first round. Could be an early exit which would be massively disappointing. Again, Garbi has played one match since the French Open ended for her. Haven't seen a coaching announcement yet either.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Mugu has Keys in the first round. Could be an early exit which would be massively disappointing. Again, Garbi has played one match since the French Open ended for her. Haven't seen a coaching announcement yet either.

Leg injury? She had intended to play the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose but pulled out a few days before it started Was not listed for at all for Rogers Cup TMK. Hope she's really ready to come back.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Entry list:
Main Draw
1 Barty, Ashleigh (AUS)
2 Osaka, Naomi (JPN)
3 Pliskova, Karolina (CZE)
4 Bertens, Kiki (NED)
5 Kerber, Angelique (GER)
6 Kvitova, Petra (CZE)
7 Halep, Simona (ROU)
8 Svitolina, Elina (UKR)
9 Stephens, Sloane (USA)
10 Williams, Serena (USA)
11 Sabalenka, Aryna (BLR)
12 Sevastova, Anastasija (LAT)
13 Bencic, Belinda (SUI)
14 Vondrousova, Marketa (CZE)
15 Wang, Qiang (CHN)
16 Keys, Madison (USA)
17 Goerges, Julia (GER)
18 Konta, Johanna (GBR)
19 Wozniacki, Caroline (DEN)
20 Kontaveit, Anett (EST)
21 Mertens, Elise (BEL)
22 Vekic, Donna (CRO)
23 Garcia, Caroline (FRA)
24 Martic, Petra (CRO)
25 Andreescu, Bianca (CAN)
26 Anisimova, Amanda (USA)
27 Muguruza, Garbiñe (ESP)
28 Kenin, Sofia (USA)
29 Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE)
30 Kasatkina, Daria (RUS)
31 Suárez Navarro, Carla (ESP)
32 Sakkari, Maria (GRE)
33 Tsurenko, Lesia (UKR)
34 Collins, Danielle (USA)
35 Yastremska, Dayana (UKR)
36 Sasnovich, Aliaksandra (BLR)
37 Ostapenko, Jelena (LAT)
38 Siniakova, Katerina (CZE)
39 Putintseva, Yulia (KAZ)
40 Azarenka, Victoria (BLR)
42 Giorgi, Camila (ITA)
43 Zheng, Saisai (CHN)
43 Bellis, Catherine (USA) SR

Alternates
44 Williams, Venus (USA)
45 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
47 Kuzmova, Viktoria (SVK)
48 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)

Qualifying Draw
32 Strycova, Barbora (CZE)
35 Zhang, Shuai (CHN)
37 Riske, Alison (USA)
43 Tomljanovic, Ajla (AUS)
44 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia (RUS)
45 Puig, Monica (PUR)
48 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
49 Kuzmova, Viktoria (SVK)
50 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)
52 Wang, Yafan (CHN)
53 Cornet, Alize (FRA)
54 Hercog, Polona (SLO)
55 Kudermetova, Veronika (RUS)
57 Gasparyan, Margarita (RUS)
58 Buzarnescu, Mihaela (ROU)
59 Jabeur, Ons (TUN)
60 Linette, Magda (POL)
61 Swiatek, Iga (POL)
64 Potapova, Anastasia (RUS)
65 Rybakina, Elena (KAZ)
67 Kozlova, Kateryna (UKR)
68 Kanepi, Kaia (EST)
69 Golubic, Viktorija (SUI)
70 Peterson, Rebecca (SWE)
71 Maria, Tatjana (GER)
73 Davis, Lauren (USA)
74 Pera, Bernarda (USA)
76 Brady, Jennifer (USA)

Alternates
77 Petkovic, Andrea (GER)
79 Pegula, Jessica (USA)
86 Diyas, Zarina (KAZ)
89 Teichmann, Jil (SUI)
90 Mattek-Sands, Bethanie (USA) SR
94 Pliskova, Kristyna (CZE)

This player Entry List does not appear to reflect the actual seeding for this event. The official draw sheet shows Simona as #4 and Kiki at #5. (Wiki also show this).

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/663/15/wtaii_ls_smd.pdf

Will have to see if Simona will actually be able to play. She felt it prudent/necessary to retire after the 1st in her QF match on Friday because of an ongoing Achilles injury. She has a first round bye for this event and is not scheduled to play on Monday. Most likely her first match at Cincy will be on Tuesday or Wednesday. She might decide to take another week off but then there is no longer a Connecticut Open (as there was last year).

Sad to see that CiCi Bellis is still not returning to play as she had originally planned. She's not played a pro match since last March at Miami. Has undergone 4 surgeries since then. She may have to end up retiring if she can't make it back this year. It's a shame that she turned down a full ride at Stanford to turn pro only to have this all happen. With a better 2nd serve, she had top 10 potential... reached #35 at 18 with a number of top 10 wins

‘I thought I was going to be done’ – Bellis opens up on excruciating injury battle

Former WTA World No.35 CiCi Bellis has revealed how close she came to quitting the sport but that she also found a silver lining in her time away.

www.wtatennis.com

 

[fundrazer]

Leg injury? She had intended to play the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose but pulled out a few days before it started Was not listed for at all for Rogers Cup TMK. Hope she's really ready to come back.

Dunno. She's been practicing at IMG Academy so I don't think it was anything serious.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Dunno. She's been practicing at IMG Academy so I don't think it was anything serious.

Serious enuff to skip both San Jose and Toronto tho.

 

[I Am Finnish]

P⁰⁰⁰

This player Entry List does not appear to reflect the actual seeding for this event. The official draw sheet shows Simona as #4 and Kiki at #5. (Wiki also show this).

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/663/15/wtaii_ls_smd.pdf

Will have to see if Simona will actually be able to play. She felt it prudent/necessary to retire after the 1st in her QF match on Friday because of an ongoing Achilles injury. She has a first round bye for this event and is not scheduled to play on Monday. Most likely her first match at Cincy will be on Tuesday or Wednesday. She might decide to take another week off but then there is no longer a Connecticut Open (as there was last year).

Sad to see that CiCi Bellis is still not returning to play as she had originally planned. She's not played a pro match since last March at Miami. Has undergone 4 surgeries since then. She may have to end up retiring if she can't make it back this year. It's a shame that she turned down a full ride at Stanford to turn pro only to have this all happen. With a better 2nd serve, she had top 10 potential... reached #35 at 18 with a number of top 10 wins

‘I thought I was going to be done’ – Bellis opens up on excruciating injury battle

Former WTA World No.35 CiCi Bellis has revealed how close she came to quitting the sport but that she also found a silver lining in her time away.

www.wtatennis.com

Cici will probably skip new York too

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Cici will probably skip new York too

I think she was given a protected ranking for both Cincy and the US Open. Is the NY tournament you refer to, the Bronx Open with Konta, Yastremska and others? Be a shame if she couldn't play at all this year.

2019 Bronx Open - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[ALEXT]

What's happening with Vondrousova? Is she injured? She missed both Rogers Cup and Cincy. I haven't heard/seen much of her after RG.

Too bad they didn't see fit to give Gauff a MD WC.... Instead, they gave one to Sharapova and Kuzy. The tournaments should think about the future not the past... Sure they will sell few more tickets for the 1R but eventually miss the chance to help a potential future champion especially one of their own. I think they should split the WCs equally at least between fossils and young blood.

On a different note, this is the most elusive tournament for Halep. She played 3 finals here (2015, 2017,2018) in the past 4 years but lost them all.... Maybe 4th time's the charm?

 

[Enceladus]

This player Entry List does not appear to reflect the actual seeding for this event. The official draw sheet shows Simona as #4 and Kiki at #5. (Wiki also show this).

The ranking in the Entry List is often different from the list of seeded players. While the list of seeded players is based on the ranking issued a week before the tournament starts, the Entry List is based on the ranking that was valid 6 weeks before the tournament starts.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

The ranking in the Entry List is often different from the list of seeded players. While the list of seeded players is based on the ranking issued a week before the tournament starts, the Entry List is based on the ranking that was valid 6 weeks before the tournament starts.

That makes sense. After looking at the draw sheet, I assumed that something along those lines was the case. Thanks for the clarification

 

[Enceladus]

What's happening with Vondrousova? Is she injured? She missed both Rogers Cup and Cincy. I haven't heard/seen much of her after RG.

Marketa have wrist inflammation in left handed. In agreement with her team, she decided to opt out of Cincinnati on 7 August. She should play at the US Open.

 

[ALEXT]

Marketa have wrist inflammation in left handed. In agreement with her team, she decided to opt out of Cincinnati on 7 August. She should play at the US Open.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't find any info on her (in English).

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

On a different note, this is the most elusive tournament for Halep. She played 3 finals here (2015, 2017,2018) in the past 4 years but lost them all.... Maybe 4th time's the charm?

Only if she recovers enough from the Achilles issue that has bothered her this past week.

Noticed that Serena had also played the in the Cincy finals 3x... but manage to win it two of those times. However, neither Serena nor Simona have managed to win Canada and Cincinnati back to back. When Serena had won Cincy, she only got to the SF around in Canada.

There was one year (2013) where she reached both finals but only won Canada that year. OTOH, there has been two years, 2015 and 2018, where Simona reached both finals in the same year. She won the Montréal title in the latter case.

Don't believe that there has been any women that has won both tournaments back to back. Not yet checked to see if Roger or any of the other ATP guys have pulled off this feat.


EDIT: Nope, Roger has not done it either. Won Cincy 7x and Canada 2x. There has been 3 years when he has been in both finals, but only titled in Cincy.

No for Novak either -- & only won Cincy once. Rafa did it tho. Also only won Cincy once -- but he had also won Canada that year.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Don't believe that there has been any women that has won both tournaments back to back. Not yet checked to see if Roger or any of the other ATP guys have pulled off this feat.

The Nadal and Roddick. Too lazy to check later years.

 

[fundrazer]

The Nadal and Roddick. Too lazy to check later years.

Rafter is the other one, but I think that's it. Okay apparently Agassi has done it also.

Although Rafter/Roddick/Nadal all pulled off the trifecta I think. Canada/Cinci/US Open.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Rafter is the other one, but I think that's it. Okay apparently Agassi has done it also.

Although Rafter/Roddick/Nadal all pulled off the trifecta I think. Canada/Cinci/US Open.

The Nadal and Roddick. Too lazy to check later years.

I had already mentioned Rafa in last line of my post (in the EDIT I had added 24 hrs ago). But excellent catch on Roddick. He did it 2003. Ditto for Rafter and Agassi.

The men have had the opportunity longer. Both Canada and Cincy have been part of the Masters 1000 or equivalent since the early 1990s. For the women, Cincy did not become a Tier 1 or P5 event until 2009

 

[spystud]

Bianca out.

Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu made history with a Toronto WTA title on Sunday and then withdrew from next week's big date at the Cincinnati Masters.

The 19-year-old who claimed the trophy when Serena Williams was unable to play more than four games before retiring with back spasms said "Thanks, but no thanks' to any extra exertion in the US Open run-up."

The first Canadian in half a century to win the home trophy said she did not want to taken any risks after missing more than two months -- and Wimbledon -- with shoulder problems before returning to action this week.

"I've never been there, so I'm really disappointed to withdraw from the tournament," said Andreescu, who was leading Williams 3-1 when the 23-time Grand Slam champion called it a day.

"I really have to listen to my body right now, this last week has not been easy on it," she added after beating three top 10 players in her hometown win that thrilled a nation.

 

[nounforcederrors]

Iga Swiatek just took the first set in a tiebreak over Caroline Garcia - she's one to watch, along with Marie Bouzkova and the upcoming American teens (Osuigwe, McNally, Gauff. etc.). These kids look as accomplished as players a couple of years into professional tennis did a half a dozen years ago. Better training for young kids, maybe, or the fact that power is a bigger feature of tennis than it used to be, and easier to develop than strategy and skill.

 

[I Am Finnish]

García sucks this year shame

 

[ALEXT]

García sucks this year shame

Ostapenko too... she's 14/21 win/loss this year and out of Cincy 1R.

Sharapova and Woz up in few hrs for their 1R match.

 

[flyingboris]

Sharapova and Woz up in few hrs for their 1R match.

Very curious how this top-100 player "Sharapova" (sp?) will do. Match starts in 30min

 

[spystud]

Jo out in 3 to Peterson.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1160996131159101440

 

[flyingboris]

Sharpie getting started!

Edit: wins the first game at 15, still has an "I'm almost crying" look on her face.

Edit 2: refuses to return serve because she was still busy practicing her swing while Riske served. Gamesmanship on the sixth point of the match, looks promising..

Edit 3: correction, I think the "I'm almost crying" look may just be her current face with slightly more chin than before. Holds for 2-1, Riske to serve.

 

[insideguy]

Riske has the stiffest oddest strokes on the tour. I guess her backhand is normal. But her forehand is so weird. I suppose it works well on grass I can see why.

 

[insideguy]

So does a player like Sharapova get wildcards for like the rest of her life?

 

[flyingboris]

Riske has the stiffest oddest strokes on the tour. I guess her backhand is normal. But her forehand is so weird. I suppose it works well on grass I can see why.

She is great at redirecting and doesn't seem to make a lot of UE. I can see why players struggle against her.

 

[flyingboris]

Sharapova survives a break point to go up 3-2.

 

[flyingboris]

Set point Pova, I repeat, set point Pova!

... two set points ova, back to deuce

... fourth deuce, seven minute game so far.

... and she takes it! First set Sharapova 6-3. Pretty shaky on serve, but so far getting the job done.

 

[flyingboris]

W/UE stats not as terrible as I thought:

 

[flyingboris]

Sharapova loses her serve with a DF and two painful UE, one of which was an easy* overhead and one a sitter after a netcord. Ouch. Down 2-0, Riske to serve.

*you know, for a pro

 

[heftylefty]

So does a player like Sharapova get wildcards for like the rest of her life?

Nike, Head and Rolex are still on the hook so the Power That Be will make sure Sugar remain in the main draw. Warranted or no.

 

[tennis4me]

Riske has the stiffest oddest strokes on the tour. I guess her backhand is normal. But her forehand is so weird. I suppose it works well on grass I can see why.

There's hope for mortals that all-arm FH stroke can get you far - #36 WTA.

 

[flyingboris]

Nike, Head and Rolex are still on the hook so the Power That Be will make sure Sugar remain in the main draw. Warranted or no.

Let me be the first to thank Nike, Head, and Rolex. Admittedly I'm watching with the sound off.

 

[flyingboris]

Sharapova breaks back on the third break point, now serving at 3-4 in the second.

... only to face two break points the very next game

.. which she saves, back to deuce

.. but ultimately loses the game anyway, 5*-3 Riske

.. who promptly hands Maria a couple break points with a few hasty UE

.. the second of which Maria takes, so she'll be serving at 4*-5. What a rollercoaster..

 

[flyingboris]

Riske's UE count going up. Maria's consistently terrible. That's approaching four entire games' worth of UE in the second set..

 

[flyingboris]

... and just like that, Sharapova is serving for the match!

... and promptly goes down 0-30

... but reaches match point at 40-30

... only to hit an UE followed by a DF. Break point Riske..

.. who hits a ball smack on the baseline, taking the game. Tie break time!

 

[spystud]

And of course broken for a breaker.

 

[flyingboris]

And of course broken for a breaker.

Yeah, this match really calls for lowlights. There have been some very painful and consequential misses by Maria. Let's see if she survives this tiebreak. So far looking good at 4*-1.

.. just as I say that she hits a second serve 4ft out..

 

[spystud]

That DF missed by 10’.

 

[flyingboris]

Incredibly lucky netcord by Maria to eke out 5-2, followed by an uncharacteristic UE by Riske to go up 6-2. C'mon Maria, you can do this.

... ace by Riske.. 6-3 ..

.. DF by Maria .. 6-4 ..

.. UE by Riske.. 7-4!

Sharapova wins a match!

 

[spystud]

That DF only missed by 5’. Getting closer.

 

[spystud]

She’s the big winner.

 

[flyingboris]

Now why I felt the need to live-comment this match I have no idea, but it kept me entertained.

 

[spystud]

Caro’s dad down to lecture @ 1-4. I’ve mentioned this before, but Caro has shrunk this season.

 

[flyingboris]

Meanwhile, Kuznetsova one game from beating the world number eleven...

 

[spystud]

The lecture worked, back on serve @ 3-4.

 

[flyingboris]

Kuznetsova through, bye bye Sevastova