A night of stars

Tonight’s first match between two-time Western & Southern Open champion Serena Williams and 10th seed Emma Raducanu could be one for the history books. Williams, playing in her 10th and maybe last Western & Southern Open, has said she is “evolving away from tennis.” The 23-time Grand Slam major champion, 40, had already won four majors and held the world No. 1 ranking when Raducanu, 19, was born in late 2002. But Raducanu is a force of her own. She was the surprise U.S. Open champion last year, becoming the only qualifier to ever go all the way to win the title. These two have never played each other and Raducanu is grateful their careers are overlapping. “It’s a gift to play one of the best tennis players of all time on her way out.” Serena has never lost her first match in Cincinnati.

World No. 1 and 2019 Western & Southern Open champion Daniil Medvedev takes the court for tonight’s second match against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. Medvedev defeated van de Zandschulp enroute to the U.S. Open title last year but the Dutchman was the only player to take a set off him. Medvedev comes into Cincinnati fighting to keep the No. 1 ranking. Van de Schulp has beaten two Top 10 players this year and comes in at a career-high ranking of No. 24. Let the battle begin!