UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
As the summer heats up, tennis enthusiasts and sports fans alike are gearing up for one of the most highly anticipated events on the tennis calendar: the Cincinnati Open. Steeped in history and held annually in the picturesque suburb of Mason, Ohio, this prestigious outdoor hardcourt tournament has been a staple in the world of tennis since its inception on September 18, 1899.
What sets the Cincinnati Open apart is its remarkable legacy as the oldest tennis tournament in the United States, maintaining its roots in the same city throughout its rich history. With its prime positioning in the tennis season, the Cincinnati Open serves as a crucial preparatory ground for players eyeing success in the later stages of the year, including the US Open.
The tournament’s prominence is further underscored by its classification as a Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour and a WTA 1000 event on the WTA Tour, showcasing a formidable lineup of talent from both the men’s and women’s circuits. Under the backdrop of the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the stage is set for the 2023 edition of the Cincinnati Open, slated to take place from August 13 to August 20.
ATP Cincinnati Open 2023 – men’s singles favourites
Contents
The world’s best male tennis players converge on the hallowed courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the stage is set for a high-stakes battle of skill, strategy, and determination in the men’s singles category.
Let’s delve into the elite group of leading contenders who are poised to make their mark on this prestigious tournament.
Novak Djokovic – 172/100 (2.73)
The Serbian legend has had an impressive 2023 run on the ATP tour. He claimed the Australian Open and French Open crowns, taking his tally to 23 Grand Slams. That number would have been higher had he not succumbed to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon Championships final.
After the draining experience at the All England Club, Novak withdrew from the Canadian Open, preferring to play in the United States, where he will have his sight set on the US Open. Due to his complicated stance on covid vaccines, Djokovic was not allowed to participate in the North American leg of the ATP tour last year and will have a score to settle on his return to this side of the Atlantic.
Carlos Alcaraz – 43/20 (3.15)
Djokovic’s ambitions of a calendar Grand Slam were thwarted by Alcaraz at SW19. The duo are on opposite sides of the schedule ladder but if their run continues, they will be locking horns at the event. While Novak has different reasons for vengeance, Alcaraz will be seething after his quarter-final defeat to Tommy Paul in Toronto.
The young Spaniard reached the quarter-finals last year but could not get past British number 1, Cameron Norrie. The three-set battle saw both rivals claim one tiebreaker apiece before Norrie delivered the finishing blow. It is one of the few ATP 1000 events that Alcaraz has not gotten his hands on and will be a formidable foe at the competition.
Daniil Medvedev – 11/2 (6.50)
The world number three has had an interesting year. After making it to five successive tournament finals, a record in its own right, he ended his barren run on clay court events by claiming the Rome Masters. Medvedev has much to prove and arrives in Cincinnati after a quarter-final loss to Alex de Minaur in the Canadian Masters
Medvedev was the first seed in last year’s extravaganza, living up to the billing with a quarter-final finish. His run was concluded by eventual finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was thwarted by an inspired Borna Coris in the final.
WTA Cincinnati Open 2023 – women’s singles favourites
As the women’s tennis elite prepare to showcase their prowess on the hardcourts, a captivating narrative of competition, athleticism, and ambition is set to unfold.
Let’s turn our attention to the formidable lineup of women’s singles players who are poised to captivate audiences and vie for glory in this prestigious tournament.
Iga Swiatek – 56/25 (3.24)
The Polish ace claimed title success in front of home fans at the Warsaw Open. Her transition from clay to hard surface was easy as she made it to the semi-finals of the Canadian Open. The successive long runs that saw her involved in a ninth match took its toll and she bowed out at the semi-final stage.
Swiatek was not easy to break and eventual winner, Jessica Pegula, had to put up a three-set battle to overcome her. After the defeat to Pegula, the world number 1 will have her tail up and ready for success in the sunbathed city. She already has four singles titles of the year and will be looking for a fifth one on American shores.
Aryna Sabalenka – 493/100 (5.93)
The right-handed maestro is hot on the heels of Swiatek. Her trip across the Atlantic was ruined by Liudmila Samsonova, who defeated her in the third round of the Montreal Open. It came on the back of the semi-final defeat to Ons Jabeur at the Wimbledon Championships.
It was only the third instance in 2023 that Sabalenka did not reach the championship rounds and will be looking to improve on her return to the Cincinnati Masters. At the Western and Southern Open last year, she reached the semi-finals and will be hoping to improve on that showing this time around. That was the second time she had reached that stage after bowing out at the hands of Simona Halep in the 2018 edition as well.
Elena Rybakina – 277/50 (6.54)
The towering Kazakh ace has two titles, both WTA 1000 events. She triumphed at the expense of Anhelina Kalinina in Rome Masters and defeated Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells. The latter was a grudge match between the Australian Open finalists, Rybakina turning the tables to avenge her grand slam final defeat.
The 24-year-old arrives at Lindner Family Tennis Center after a semi-final appearance at the Canadian Open. It was a draining experience with three three-setters for the third seed. However, it was only her first outing since her quarter-final run in Wimbledon and she will be a force to reckon with in Cincinnati.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!