In American Cincinnati, one of the most important stages of preparation for the final Grand Slam tournament — the US Open — begins. Seven representatives of the Ukrainian national team will participate in the prestigious WTA 1000 series competition, which traditionally gathers the world's strongest players. The tournament will take place from August 13 to 23, serving as a key test of form on the hard court before the main event of the autumn.
According to information published on the official website of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the Ukrainian delegation looks impressive. The squad includes both experienced veterans and young debutants, for whom participation in the main draw will be a significant step in their careers.
Elina Svitolina: return to top results
The leader of the Ukrainian group is Elina Svitolina. For the country's number one player, this tournament will be her tenth in her career. Svitolina knows the specifics of the competition in Cincinnati well and has solid experience here. Her best achievement on this surface remains the 2015 semi-final. Currently, according to the updated rankings, Marta Kostyuk is confidently chasing the leader, adding intrigue to the Ukrainian team's performance.
Kostyuk, Yastremska and Kalinina: experience and ambitions
Marta Kostyuk will play in the main draw of the American "thousand" for the fifth time. The young tennis player has already proven that she is capable of competing with top players: in 2022, she reached the third round, which became her best result at this tournament.
Diana Yastremska also has extensive experience performing in Cincinnati. This is her seventh tournament in the city, second only to Svitolina in terms of the number of starts. Yastremska's best performance here was reaching the third round in 2020.
Angelina Kalinina will hold her fourth tournament in Cincinnati. Last year, in 2023, she managed to overcome the first-round barrier, reaching the second round stage.
Debutants and return
The Ukrainian team also includes tennis players for whom this tournament will be something new. Yuliya Starodubtseva will play in the main draw for the second year in a row. Last season, her performance ended after the very first match, and now the task is to show progress.
Particular interest is aroused by the participation of Daria Snigur and Alexandra Oleynikova. For both athletes, this will be a full debut at the tournament in Cincinnati. Previously, they did not even compete here in the qualifying rounds, which makes their participation in the main draw a significant achievement.
The road to the US Open
Cincinnati is traditionally considered one of the most prestigious tournaments after the "Grand Slam". It is here that the world's leading tennis players complete their preparation for the US Open, testing their form and tactics on the hard court. Before the start in the USA, players will hold another WTA 1000 series stage in Toronto, Canada, which will allow them to gain maximum playing practice.
The draw for the main draw will take place immediately on the eve of the start of the competition, which will add tension before the first match. For Ukrainian tennis players, this tournament is a chance not only to earn important ranking points but also to demonstrate their readiness for the final sprint of the season.
