Sabalenka, Gauff lead Cincy women’s draw; Venus returns

By Grant Thompson

Aryna Sabalenka is back at the Cincinnati Open, competing in the main draw for the eighth consecutive season — this time as the defending champion, top seed and World No. 1. 

In action for the first time since Wimbledon, Sabalenka leads the women’s draw, which was revealed Tuesday evening. Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, the past two Cincinnati champions, respectively, are the top-two seeds.

Sabalenka is seeded for a quarter-final clash with 2019 champion Madison Keys — a potential rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, which Keys won. Adding to the intrigue, Sabalenka could face big names early, such as a looming third-round meeting with 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Also in the top quarter, tennis icon Venus Williams will make her 11th appearance at the Cincinnati Open. The 45-year-old returned to action in Washington, D.C. and became the oldest player to win a WTA match since 2004. Danielle Collins faces Taylor Townsend in a compelling first-round encounter.

A Sabalenka vs. Keys match-up is not the only possible Grand Slam final rematch happening in Cincy this year. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, seeded third, has a potential quarterfinal contest against fifth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, who the Pole defeated 6-0, 6-0 at the All England Club to lift her sixth major trophy. Local favorite Peyton Stearns is also in Swiatek’s quarter.

Fans could be treated to an enticing all-American quarterfinal between ninth seed Emma Navarro and fourth seed Jessica Pegula, who is aiming to go one step further than last year’s runner-up finish. Navarro and Pegula’s quarter of the draw features 2022 champion Caroline Garcia and is also loaded with American talent (prior to qualifiers being placed), including 24th seed Sofia Kenin, 29th seed McCartney Kessler and Cincinnati’s own Caty McNally.

Second seed Gauff headlines the bottom quarter of the draw and should the seeds hold, the 21-year-old would meet Italian Jasmine Paolini in the quarters. Gauff’s section of the draw includes Elina Svitolina, Daria Kasatkina, Jelena Ostapenko and Naomi Osaka, who is competing in the Montreal semifinals Wednesday evening. Former No. 3 Maria Sakkari is also in that mix.

Main-draw action begins on Thursday, August 7.