Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Victoria Azarenka is to compete in qualifying for the Western and Southern Open this summer.
Currently ranked 58th, Azarenka, who won the title in Cincinnati seven years ago, is currently set to be the fourth seed seed in the qualifying draw for the tournament. The Belorussian will be making her return to the tour following its suspension at the Top Seed Open in Kentucky, the week before action in New York begins.
World number 55 Hsieh Su-Wei is the highest ranked WTA Player in the qualification field, with the likes of Aija Tomljanovic, Alison Van Uytvanck and Alize Cornet all featured. Also in action will be former world number two Vera Zvonareva. The Russian, a Wimbledon and US Open runner-up ten years ago, won the title back in 2006 and has taken a protected ranking to enter the qualifying draw this year.
Richard Gasquet is the most notable name in the ATP field. The Frenchman reached the last four in Cincinnati last summer, though a run of injury problems and inconsistent form has seen him drop down to 50th in the rankings. Other notable names featured include Feliciano Lopez, Gilles Simon and Jannik Sinner.
The tournament has moved away from its usual home in Cincinnati to New York this year due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It will be held at the USTA National Tennis centre in the week preceding the US Open. It will be the first event on the ATP Tour in the sport’s restart, with the WTA Tour have restarted in Palermo this week.