CINCINNATI (July 12, 2018) — The Western & Southern Open will welcome the top 44 players in the ATP World Tour rankings for the 2018 tournament, a group that includes seven-time champion Roger Federer, former champions Rafael Nadal, Grigor Dimitrov and Marin Cilic, as well as five-time finalist Novak Djokovic.
These initial entrants, which include players from 23 countries, are the beginning of the 56-player field that will compete in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament August 11-19 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are among the winningest players in the tournament’s history. Federer, who is currently No. 2 in the rankings, owns a 42-8 W&S Open record and is looking to equal Michael Chang’s Open Era record with his 16th appearance at the event. Djokovic has a 26-11 record in Cincinnati while Nadal, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, is 22-11.
Nadal and Djokovic have reached the final four at Wimbledon, and will be joined in the 2018 field by that event’s other semifinalists – former W&S Open finalist John Isner and former University of Illinois All-American Kevin Anderson.
Joining these established stars are 14 players who are 25-years-old or younger, including No. 3 Alexander Zverev (21-years-old), American Jack Sock (25), 2017 W&S Open finalist Nick Kyrgios (23) and a pair of 19-year-olds – Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Stefano Tsitsipas of Greece.
“We are looking forward this strong field of ATP World Tour stars coming to the Western & Southern Open next month,” said Tournament Director Andre Silva. “It is an intriguing time on the tour as these younger players are pushing to make their breakthroughs at the bigger events, but the veteran players are not ready yet to give up their status at the top. That should mean compelling action throughout our tournament.”
Here is a look at the initial 44 entries into the Western & Southern Open:
Rank Player (Country) Age • Quick Facts
1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 32 • 17-time Major champion, 2013 W&S Open champion
2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 36 • 20-time Major champion, Seven-time W&S Open champion
3) Alexander Zverev (Germany) 21 • Three-time ATP Masters 1000 title winner
4) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 29 • 2009 US Open champion, Winner of 22 ATP titles
5) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 29 • 2014 US Open champion, 2016 W&S Open champion
6) Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 27 • 2017 ATP World Tour Finals champion, 2017 W&S Open champion
7) Dominic Thiem (Austria) 24 • 2018 French Open finalist, 2017 W&S Open quarterfinalist
8) Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 32 • 2017 US Open finalist, 2018 Wimbledon semifinalist
9) David Goffin (Belgium) 27 • 2017 ATP World Tour Finals runner-up
11) Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 25 • 2017 US Open and 2018 French Open quarterfinalist
12) Pablo Carreno Busta (Spain) 26 • 2017 US Open semifinalist
13) Sam Querrey (USA) 30 • 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist and US Open quarterfinalist
14) Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) 30 • Winner of eight ATP titles
15) Jack Sock (USA) 25 • 2017 ATP Masters 1000 Paris champion
16) Fabio Fognini (Italy) 31 • Winner of six ATP titles
17) Kyle Edmund (Great Britain) 23 • 2018 Australian Open semifinalist
18) Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 23 • 2017 W&S Open finalist
19) Lucas Pouille (France) 24 • 2016 Wimbledon and US Open quarterfinalist
20) Borna Coric (Croatia) 21 • 2013 US Open junior champion, 2016 W&S Open quarterfinalist
21) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 31 • Twelve-time Major champion, Five-time W&S Open finalist
22) Hyeon Chung (Korea) 22 • 2018 Australian Open semifinalist, 2017 ATP Next Gen champion
23) Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 26 • All three career titles have come in last nine months
24) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 32 • Two-time W&S Open semifinalist
25) Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 19 • Named 2017 ATP Star of Tomorrow and Most Improved Player
26) Adrian Mannarino (France) 30 • 2017 ATP Masters 1000 Montreal quarterfinalist
27) Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 34 • Five-time ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinalist
28) Kei Nishikori (Japan) 28 • 2014 US Open finalist, Four-time ATP Masters 1000 finalist
29) Marco Cecchinato (Italy) 25 • 2018 French Open semifinalist
30) Filip Karjinovic (Serbia) 26 • 2017 ATP Masters 1000 Paris finalist
31) Richard Gasquet (France) 32 • Three-time Major semifinalist
32) Milos Raonic (Canada) 27 • Two-time W&S Open semifinalist
33) Andrey Rublev (Russia) 20 • As a teenager, 2017 US Open quarterfinalist
34) Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 34 • Winner of seven career titles and more than 500 matches
35) Stefano Tsitsipas (Greece) 19 • 2016 Junior No. 1, Highest ranked Greek player in history
36) Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 31 • Owned an 11-match Davis Cup winning streak (2013-16)
37) David Ferrer (Spain) 36 • 2014 W&S Open finalist and 2017 semifinalist
38) Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spain) 30 • 2017 ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo finalist
39) Peter Gojowczyk (Germany) 28 • Has reached all three ATP finals in last 10 months
40) Karen Khachanov (Russia) 22 • Winner of two ATP titles
41) Mischa Zverev (Germany) 30 • 2017 Australian Open quarterfinalist
42) Steve Johnson (USA) 28 • Winner of three ATP titles, Owned 72-match winning streak at USC
43) Robin Haase (Netherlands) 31 • 2017 ATP Masters 1000 Montreal quarterfinalist
44) Gael Monfils (France) 31 • Two-time Major semifinalist, Three-time Masters 1000 finalist
Four players will be granted wild cards to join the field, while seven players will advance into the draw by competing in a two-round qualifying tournament to be held August 11-12.
