Champion Kim Clijsters poses with the 2010 Women’s Open tournament trophy.
2010 Master’s winner Roger Federer demonstrates his championship form.
From the hotly contested qualifying rounds to the blazing finals matches, the 2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Women's Open delivered world-class tennis to fans around the world.
As title sponsor of the Masters and Women's Open, Western & Southern Financial Group has become closely associated with the world of tennis. In 2002, the company became the title sponsor of the Masters to ensure that the championship tournament stayed in Greater Cincinnati, which has hosted professional tennis for more than a century. In 2004, we became the title sponsor of the Women’s Open, bringing women’s tennis back to Cincinnati after an absence of more than 15 years.
Since then, the tournaments have helped Western & Southern share its story with millions of TV viewers in more than 30 countries and hundreds of thousands of tournament attendees annually – more than 223,700 in 2010.
The 2010 tournament started on a high note, thanks to a mini tennis match played by Women’s Open players Melanie Oudin and Julia Boserup on of top of Western & Southern’s new skyscraper, the Great American Tower at Queen City Square. The event highlighted Western & Southern’s involvement in the tournaments and in Cincinnati’s tallest office building, which will be completed in 2011.
In the 2010 Women’s Open, defending US Open champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium defeated Maria Sharapova of Russia to win the women’s singles trophy. In doubles. Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko defeated Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs.
In the 2010 Masters, defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland captured the tournament trophy for the fourth time by defeating Mardy Fish of the United States. With this victory, Federer tied Mats Wilander for the most Cincinnati titles in the US Open era. In doubles, the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike) claimed their third Masters doubles title by beating Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi.
In addition to the center court action, 2010 was a significant year in the development of the tournament. A $10 million facility upgrade, including the opening of the 52,000 square-foot Paul Flory Player Center, improved the experience for fans, the media and players alike.
The 2011 tournament, however, promises to be the best ever. It will feature a combined men’s and women’s tournament and, to accommodate it, an even larger expansion of the stadium and grounds. In all, six new courts will be added (including a 4,000-seat television court and a 2,500-seat court) as well as an enclosed ticket office and a 10,000 square-foot entry plaza, The overall footprint of the tennis center will be increased by 5.4 acres.
With the additional fans the combined tournament will draw, the Western & Southern tournament will be the nation’s largest outside of the US Open.
Next year’s combined tournament will undoubtedly draw even more visitors to the Greater Cincinnati area. Currently, the tournaments generate, conservatively, more than $25.3 million of economic activity in the region annually. In addition, since 1974, the tournaments have contributed more than $8.4 million to local charities. The Western & Southern tournaments benefit Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the UC Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital and Tennis for City Youth.
The new combined Western & Southern tournament will be played August 13 to 21, 2011.
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