From Thrusday, the second consecutive Masters 1000 to feature in the North American summer hard-court swing, the Cincinnati Open, will see defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner back in action for the first time since Wimbledon.
The stakes are high for both title defenders, who last year carried momentum into the fourth Grand Slam of the season to become first-time US Open champions.
Throughout her 2024 campaign at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the WTA world No. 1 did not drop a set en route to the championship match.
This season, Sabalenka is drawn in a star-packed top half of the first quarter, featuring major champions Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys as well as Mubadala Citi DC Open champion Leylah Fernandez.
Following a first-round bye, the top seed will meet former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or world No. 52 Jaqueline Cristian.
Furthermore, a rematch of the 2025 Australian Open final is on the cards with Sabalenka projected to meet world No. 6 Madison Keys in the quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, living legend Venus Williams, awarded a wild card to compete in the tournament, will kickstart her campaign on home soil, facing off world No. 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Last month, at the age of 45, the seven-time major winner took the tennis world by surprise, hitting the court in Washington for the first time after a 16-month lay-off.
Delivering high-level tennis, she claimed first-round wins in singles and doubles.
This season, the Cincinnati Open will take place over 14 days (up from 9), expanding the men’s and women’s singles fields from 56 to 96 players.
Therefore, on both sides, 32 seeds have received first-round byes.
On the men’s side, top-seeded Sinner will open proceedings against Czech Vit Kopriva or a qualifier with a potential matchup with 30th seed Gabriel Diallo in the second round.
Bidding to retain the title, the Italian has landed in the same half of the draw as 13th seed Tommy Paul, countryman Lorenzo Musetti, and fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
Musetti and Sinner are projected to star in a quarterfinal blockbuster; the winner will be on a potential collision course with Fritz in the last four.
Later today, the No. 1 American will meet compatriot Ben Shelton for a place in the Toronto final.
World number two Carlos Alcaraz, who stands in the opposite half of the draw, will only clash against Sinner in the championship match, representing their fourth consecutive meeting in a title match.
Leading the tour with 48 match wins under his belt, the Spaniard will set off his run against either Italian Mattia Bellucci or Damir Dzhumur.
Moreover, he is seeded to square off against sixth seed Alex de Minaur in the last eight and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
Zverev, a former champion in Canada, will play his semifinal match at the Masters 1000 in Toronto later today against 11th seed Karen Khachanov.
The German potential path to the Cincinnati final includes veteran Gael Monfils, 25th seed Brandon Nakashima, Khachanov, Shelton, Alcataz, and Sinner.
On a further note, Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca will highlight action on Thursday, making his debut at the venue against Chinese player Yunchaokete Bu, their first meeting at tour level.