Cincinnati Open Qualifying Draws Feature Grand Slam Champions and Top Tennis Names

The Cincinnati Open has announced the entry list for its qualifying event, set for Aug. 11-12 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Following Community Weekend on Aug. 8-9, the two-round qualifying draws will feature 48 women and 48 men, with 12 players from each field advancing to the main draw beginning Aug. 13.

The qualifying entry lists are highlighted by Grand Slam champions, rising young players and a strong group of former college tennis standouts.

"Fans who come out for qualifying get a preview of everything that makes this tournament special," said Bob Moran, Cincinnati Open Tournament Director. “For every player chasing a spot in the main draw, there's a former champion or a rising name reminding you just how deep this field runs. That's what makes these two days some of the most compelling tennis of the entire event."

Above: Stefanos Tsitsipas. Photo credit: JC, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked No. 51, is the highest-ranked player entered in the qualifying tournament. The former World No. 3 was a Cincinnati Open finalist in 2022 and a two-time semifinalist at the event. The 27-year-old also won his 13th ATP title last week in Gstaad.

Tsitsipas is joined in the men’s qualifying field by 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who won the Cincinnati Open title in 2016.

Other notable names in the men’s qualifying draw include 2022 Australian Open doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis, four-time ATP titlist Lorenzo Sonego, 2024 Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin and Rinky Hijikata, who reached the Indian Wells fourth round this year as a qualifier.

The men’s qualifying draw also includes 10 former college tennis standouts, including Americans Marcos Giron of UCLA, Eliot Spizzirri of Texas, Patrick Kypson of Texas A&M and Michael Zheng of Columbia. Canada’s Gabriel Diallo played for the University of Kentucky.

Above: Sofia Kenin. Photo credit: robbiesaurus / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr.

The women’s qualifying event is led by 18-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger, the youngest player inside the Top 100.

Other notable women’s entrants include former World No. 5 and 2024 Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng, as well as Ajla Tomljanovic, who reached the 2022 Cincinnati quarterfinals as a qualifier.

Taylor Townsend, the 2023 Cincinnati Open doubles champion, is joined by five Americans in the women’s qualifying field, including 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and Texas A&M standout Mary Stoiana.

The qualifying tournament features players from 31 countries, led by 12 Americans, the most of any nation. Additional players will be awarded wild cards to complete the qualifying fields.

Above: Taylor Townsend. Photo credit: pechterphotos.com.

The main draw begins Aug. 13 and runs through Finals Weekend, Aug. 22-23. The field is set to feature 10 past Cincinnati Open champions, 15 Grand Slam champions and eight players who have held the World No. 1 ranking.

The complete list of singles and qualifying entrants is available at cincinnatiopen.com/players.

The 2026 Cincinnati Open begins with Community Weekend on Aug. 8-9, featuring Kids Day activities, the U.S. debut of the Red Bull BassLine exhibition, a 5K fun run and open-seating player practices.

The Cincinnati Open, which drew 285,000 fans and was named 1000-level Tournament of the Year by both the WTA and ATP in 2025, is supported by cornerstone partners Western & Southern Financial Group, Credit One Bank, Procter & Gamble, Great American Insurance Group, Fifth Third and Kroger.

Tickets are on sale now at cincinnatiopen.com.

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Source: Cincinnati Open. Photo credit (top, featuring Marcos Giron): Mauricio Paiz.

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