Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world, will be in Mason for the W&S Open in August.
The world’s top 10 men’s and women’s tennis players will play at the Western & Southern Open in about five weeks.
Player commitments were announced today at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, where the tournament will unfold its new combined format Aug. 13-21.
For the first time ever, the venue will host top-tier men’s and women’s tournaments simultaneously during the same week. It’s expected to be the largest ever Western & Southern Open.
World No. 1s Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki will be among the players competing for ranking points and shares of hefty purses: $3.2 million for the men and $2.4 million for the women. Joining them are defending W&S champions Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters.
Headlining the men’s side are Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick.
Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and French Open winner Na Li bolster the women’s side. Serena and Venus Williams are also slated to return after missing the W&S last year because of injuries.
Tournament director Vince Cicero said the second phase of the facility’s $20 million expansion is on pace for completion by the tourney’s start. It includes six courts, a new entrance way/retail plaza and a new ticket office.
