WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN PREVIEW & DAY 1 MEDIA NOTES Sunday, August 14, 2016 Lindner Family Tennis Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA | August 14 – 21, 2016 Draw: S-56, D-24 | Prize Money: $5,004,505 ($4,362,385 on-site) | Surface: Outdoor Hard ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com www.cincytennis.com Maria Garcia-Planas: [email protected] Twitter: @ATPWorldTour @CincyTennis #CincyTennis Edward La Cava: [email protected] Facebook: ATP World Tour facebook.com/cincytennis Kate Flory: [email protected] Press Room: +1 513-651-0303 (x2250) CINCINNATI TALKING POINTS SPOTLIGHT ON OHIO: The seventh ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season, the Western & Southern Open, features 18 of the Top 20 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Leading the way is World No. 2 and two-time champion (2008, ’11) Andy Murray, who is the top seed for the first time in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The other former champion in the field is 2013 winner Rafael Nadal, who also reached the semi-finals in 2008-09. In 54 of the past 58 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (since 2010 Monte-Carlo), a member of the Big Four has captured the title. DAY 1 PREVIEW: The tournament opens with two main draw singles and one doubles match on Sunday’s schedule. There are also three first round qualifying matches to be completed and seven final round qualifying matches. In the final match of the day session on Center Court, last year’s semi-finalist Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine and Kevin Anderson of South Africa meet for the third time (tied 1-1). In the evening session, #NextGen teenager Borna Coric of Croatia takes on Benoit Paire of France for the first time. Coric is one of five teenagers in the main draw, the most here since 2005 when there were six. In the final match on, the French duo of Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon play Dominic Inglot and Marcin Matkowski. RACE TO LONDON: With seven-plus months of POS. PLAYER POINTS the season completed, the world’s best players 1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 9,040 have their eyes on the Top 8 in the Emirates 2 Andy Murray (GBR) 7,225 ATP Race to London and a coveted spot at the 3 Milos Raonic (CAN) 4,015 season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 4 Kei Nishikori (JPN) 3,505 in London, Nov. 13-20. Novak Djokovic and 5 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2,930 Andy Murray have already qualified. No. 6 Dominic Thiem and No. 8 Gael Monfils are 6 Dominic Thiem (AUT) 2,845 trying to earn their first year-end finale showing. 7 Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,730 Here are the Top 8 Race points leaders as of 8 Gael Monfils (FRA) 2,545 Aug. 8: 2016 ATP MASTERS 1000 FINALS: The Big Four have accounted for all six ATP Masters 1000 titles this season, with Djokovic leading the way with four crowns and Murray and Nadal with one. Here is a look at this year’s finals (bold in draw): Indian Wells Novak Djokovic d. Milos Raonic 62 60 Miami Novak Djokovic d. Kei Nishikori 63 63 Monte-Carlo Rafael Nadal d. Gael Monfils 75 57 60 Madrid Novak Djokovic d. Andy Murray 62 36 63 Rome Andy Murray d. Novak Djokovic 63 63 Toronto Novak Djokovic d. Kei Nishikori 63 75 Western & Southern Open Day 1 – Sunday, August 14, 2016 Page 2 of 9 www.ATPWorldTour.com MURRAY STREAKING ALONG: Murray has reached the final in his past six tournaments going back to May at ATP Masters 1000 Madrid. The 29-year-old Briton enters Sunday’s gold medal match at the Rio Olympics on a 17-match winning streak, equaling his career best in 2011. Since May he has compiled a 32-2 match record, winning titles at ATP Masters 1000 Rome, London/Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. His only losses during that stretch have come to Djokovic in Madrid and Roland Garros. Murray has a 27-9 career record in Cincinnati. In addition to his two titles, he reached the semi-finals in 2009 and last year. Murray is also within reach of 600 career match wins (597 going into gold medal match). STAN EYES STRONG RESULT: Stan Wawrinka comes in as the No. 2 seed for the first time in his career in Cincinnati. In his last tournament at ATP Masters 1000 Toronto, Wawrinka advanced to the semi-finals (l. to Nishikori). The 31-year-old Swiss native is making his eighth straight appearance in Cincinnati, 10th overall (12-9 record). His best result is the semi-finals in 2012. He also reached the quarter-finals the past two years. He is a three-time ATP World Tour winner this season (Chennai, Dubai, Geneva). He has a 31-11 match record, including 18-5 on hard courts. RAFA’S RESURGENCE: No. 3 seed and 2013 champion Rafael Nadal makes his 11th Cincinnati appearance (19-9 record). The 30-year-old Spaniard missed two months with a wrist injury before returning to the Rio Olympics where he captured the gold medal in doubles (w/M. Lopez). In singles, he reached the semi-finals (l. to del Potro in 3rd set TB) and he will play for the bronze medal on Sunday (vs. Nishikori). #NEXTGEN STARS: There are five #NextGen stars (21 & under in Top 125) in the main draw, not including possible qualifiers (listed by age): Player Rank Age Taylor Fritz, USA (WC) 56 18 Years, 9 Months Alexander Zverev, GER 27 19 Years, 3 Months Borna Coric, CRO 51 19 Years, 9 Months Jared Donaldson, USA (WC) 122 19 Years, 10 Months Nick Kyrgios, AUS 16 21 Years, 3 Months 2016 HIGHLIGHTS: Four of the five players (except Donaldson) have reached a final on the ATP World Tour, including Kyrgios, who has won titles in Marseille and Atlanta. Here is a look at each player: 2016 Best Result Best Emirates ATP Ranking - Fritz Runner-up: Memphis No. 56 (August 8) - Zverev Runner-up: Nice, Halle No. 24 (August 1) - Coric Runner-up: Chennai, Marrakech No. 33 (July 27, 2015) - Kyrgios Winner: Marseille, Atlanta No. 16 (August 8) - Donaldson 3R: Toronto No. 122 (August 8) TEENAGERS IN DRAW: Wild card Reilly Opelka (18) is one of five teenagers in the main draw (other four above). Opelka, who reached the semi-finals in Atlanta last week, is appearing in his first career ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The five teenagers in the main draw are the most in Cincinnati since 2005 when there were six (all present or past Top 10 players): Tomas Berdych, Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Western & Southern Open Day 1 – Sunday, August 14, 2016 Page 3 of 9 www.ATPWorldTour.com MILOS ON THE MOVE: Top Canadian and No. 4 seed Milos Raonic is playing in his second tournament since becoming the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon on July 10. Raonic enters with a 39-10 match record on the season (19-4 on hard) and this is his fifth appearance in Cincinnati (8-4). He reached the semi-finals in 2014 (l. to Federer) and the quarter-finals in 2012 (l. to Wawrinka). Raonic is No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Race to London. He captured his eighth career ATP World Tour title in Brisbane (d. Federer). BERDYCH & GORAN TEAM UP: This will be the first tournament No. 6 seed Tomas Berdych is working with former World No. 2 and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who split with countryman Marin Cilic last month. Berdych is making his 12th straight appearance in Cincinnati, the most of any player in the singles draw. His best result is the semi-finals in 2011 and 2013. FRENCHMEN LEAD THE WAY: World No. 1 Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut come into the tournament as the top seeds. The French duo have compiled a 30-5 match record this season, winning five titles, including Wimbledon and the first three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo). The No. 2 seeds are five-time doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan, who are making their 17th straight appearance (18th overall). They have captured the Cincinnati title in 2003, ’08, ’10, ’13-14. Overall they have a 36-13 match record in Cincinnati. They have won three titles this season (Houston, Barcelona, ATP Masters 1000 Rome) and reached two other finals (Delray Beach, Roland Garros). Last year’s champions Daniel Nestor and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, are playing with different partners. Nestor is teaming with Vasek Pospisil and Roger-Vasselin with Julien Benneteau. SEEDS TO WATCH THIS WEEK SINGLES: SEED PLAYER RECORD BEST FINISH 1 Andy Murray (GBR) 27-9 W 2011, ‘08 2 Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 12-9 SF 2012 3 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 19-9 W 2013 4 Milos Raonic (CAN) 8-4 SF 2014 5 Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2-3 R16 2012 6 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 17-11 SF 2013, ‘11 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 1-4 R32 2011, ‘09 8 Dominic Thiem (AUT) 0-2 R64 2015, ‘14 9 Gael Monfils (FRA) 8-8 QF 2011 10 David Ferrer (ESP) 17-11 F 2014 11 David Goffin (BEL) 4-2 R16 2015, ‘13 12 Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-7 QF 2012 13 Richard Gasquet (FRA) 9-9 QF 2015 14 Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 0-1 R64 2015 15 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 2-2 R32 2015, ‘14 16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 8-13 QF 2015 Western & Southern Open Day 1 – Sunday, August 14, 2016 Page 4 of 9 www.ATPWorldTour.com WILDCARDS (4): QUALIFIERS (7): OLDEST: Jared Donaldson (USA) TBC on Sunday Ivo Karlovic – 37 y, 5 m Taylor Fritz (USA) Reilly Opelka (USA) YOUNGEST: Fernando Verdasco (ESP) Taylor Fritz – 18 y, 9 m TOP COUNTRY BREAKDOWN (NOT INCLUDING QUALIFIERS): France (9), Spain (9), USA (6), Croatia (3), Argentina (2), Australia (2), Canada (2), Serbia (2) DOUBLES: SEED TEAM BEST FINISH SEED TEAM BEST FINISH 1 Herbert & Mahut 1-1; R16 2015 5 Rojer & Tecau 3-2; QF 2015,’ 14 Bryan & Bryan 36-13; W 2014, ’13, Nestor & Pospisil TEAM DEBUT 2 6 ‘10, ‘08, ‘03 3 J.