What Is 2016 Western & Southern Open

Overview

The 2016 Western & Southern Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. As a key hard-court event leading into the US Open, it attracted top players from both the ATP and WTA tours and served as a critical warm-up for the final Grand Slam of the year.

Played from August 15 to August 21, 2016, the tournament marked its 118th edition and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series and the WTA Premier 5 category. With a combined prize pool of over $4.7 million, it featured 56-player singles draws and 24-team doubles fields for both men and women.

• Event Dates: The tournament ran from August 15 to August 21, 2016, positioning it as the final Masters 1000 event before the US Open.
• Location: Held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, approximately 20 miles north of Cincinnati.
• Surface: Matches were played on outdoor hard courts, specifically Laykold acrylic surfaces, identical to those used at the US Open.
• Attendance: Over 170,000 fans attended the week-long event, making it one of the most-attended tennis tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
• Historical Significance: First held in 1899, the Western & Southern Open is one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world still in operation.

Men’s and Women’s Singles Outcomes

The 2016 edition featured dramatic finishes in both the men’s and women’s singles competitions, with unexpected champions emerging despite strong fields.

• Men’s Champion:Novak Djokovic won the title by defeating Marin Čilić 5–7, 7–6(4), 6–3 in a three-set final after dropping the first set.
• Women’s Champion:Karolína Plíšková captured her first Premier 5 title by defeating Angelique Kerber 6–3, 6–1 in the final without dropping a set all week.
• Notable Upset: Plíšková defeated world No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinals, ending Williams’ 18-match winning streak.
• Djokovic’s Path: Djokovic entered the tournament as world No. 1 but had struggled earlier in 2016; his win marked a resurgence before the US Open.
• Prize Money: Singles champions earned $770,000 and 1,000 ranking points, with Djokovic adding to his ATP lead and Plíšková climbing into the top 10.
• Withdrawals: Several top players, including Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, skipped the event to rest ahead of the US Open.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key tournament details between the men’s and women’s events at the 2016 Western & Southern Open:

The disparity in prize money reflected broader differences in tour funding, though both events offered crucial ranking points and preparation for the US Open. The identical draw sizes and scheduling underscored efforts to maintain parity in scheduling and exposure despite financial gaps.

Why It Matters

The 2016 Western & Southern Open played a pivotal role in shaping the momentum heading into the US Open, with performance here often predicting Grand Slam success. Its status as a joint ATP and WTA event also highlighted its importance in the global tennis calendar.

• US Open Indicator:Seven of the past ten men’s US Open champions had reached at least the semifinals in Cincinnati the same year.
• Player Development: For Plíšková, the win marked a breakthrough, propelling her into the WTA top 10 for the first time.
• Historical Continuity: The tournament has been held annually since 1899, making it one of the longest-running in tennis history.
• Television Exposure: Broadcast in over 150 countries, it brought significant international attention to the Cincinnati region.
• Economic Impact: The event generated an estimated $40 million in economic impact for the Greater Cincinnati area.
• Facility Standards: The Lindner Family Tennis Center features 12 courts, including a 12,000-seat center court, meeting Grand Slam-level infrastructure standards.

With its rich history, high stakes, and role as a Grand Slam precursor, the 2016 Western & Southern Open remained a cornerstone of the summer tennis circuit, bridging the gap between European clay and North American hard courts.