2019 Western & Southern Open

Ohio Stateline Sign, 2019

Who Will “Find it Here” in Ohio? Three @WTA Players Vie For World #1 at @CincyTennis
Steve Fogleman in Mason

Who will find it here in Ohio? Today should give us some clues and the women’s world No. 1 ranking hangs in the balance. Naomi Osaka became world #1 on Monday but she can hardly afford to relax. Yet when you see her off the court, she’s pretty good at projecting a relaxed persona.

Naomi Osaka (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

#2 Ashleigh Barty has carried the mantle for most of the summer before yielding it to Osaka on Monday and #3 Karolina Pliskova has held the position albeit briefly in 2017. Pliskova’s only 232 points behind Osaka in the rankings and Barty is a mere 161 points behind the Japanese 2-year-old’s 6417.

Osaka owns a 3-0 record against today’s opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Barty should be tested today with a healthy Maria Sharapova eager to settle the score after the last time they met in January at the Australian Open when Barty went on to a three set victory.

Pliskova, the 2016 Cincinnati champion, comfortably faces off against Yafan Wang in a first meeting for both.

Simona Halep (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

World #4 Simona Halep, while unable to return to #1 this week, is in an interesting position with finalist points to defend in order to stay in striking range. After that, she’ll have nothing to lose at the US Open as she was ousted in the first round there last year by Kaia Kanepi.

Kudla, Jabeur Among Early Qualifiers on @CincyTennis Sunday; Strycova, Puig Out
Steve Fogleman in Mason

Ons Jabeur, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

It’s easily been some of the loveliest August tennis-watching weather I remember in Cincinnati qualifying, and it’s always reassuring to see jammed stands and practice sessions. Soon the crescendo of the American tour will begin, as the tennis world moves onto New York. That’s a world away from the smell of the chili in Mason and, I’ve said it before, this is America’s U.S. Open. After the Open, the world of tennis shrinks for me. The Challengers, where dozens cheer, kick up in the fall and while there are quality offerings all over the country, there’s something beautiful in the way Cincinnati serves its experience. This moring was no exception.

Denis Kudla, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Denis Kudla had a packed Court 4 of American supporters, and he became the first man to book a trip to the main draw here today with a solid 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over 20-year-old Aussie Alexei Popyrin. Ons Jabeur was the first women’s qualifier of the day, winning 11 straight games en route to a thrashing of crowd favorite Andrea Petkovic, 6-3, 6-0 in 59 minutes.

Veronika Kudermetova, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Was it a late night out? Monica Puig looked exhausted at the conclusion of yesterday’s qualifying win, and she was not ready to bounce on court this morning as Veronika Kudermetova took full advantage with a 6-2, 6-1 exit for the gold medalist.

Veronika Kudermetova, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Speaking of deer-in-the-headlights, top qualifying seed Barbora Strycova, who played both of her matches on Stadium, went out with a whimper in a 6-2, 6-1 routining at the hands of Rebecca Peterson.

We’ll be back later.