What Is 2010 Western & Southern Open

Overview

The 2010 Western & Southern Open was a joint ATP and WTA tennis tournament held as part of the US Open Series, serving as a critical warm-up event for the final Grand Slam of the year. Played on hard courts, it attracted nearly all of the world's top-ranked players aiming to fine-tune their game before the US Open.

Hosted at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, the tournament featured both men’s and women’s draws and offered significant ranking points and prize money. As an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier event, it carried substantial weight in the tennis calendar, drawing large crowds and global television coverage.

• Event Duration: The tournament ran from August 16 to August 22, 2010, aligning with the US Open Series schedule leading into the final Grand Slam of the season.
• Location: Held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, which has hosted the event since 1979.
• Surface: Matches were played on outdoor hard courts, the same surface used at the US Open, making it a strategic preparation event.
• Men's Singles Champion:Rafael Nadal won the title after defeating American player Mardy Fish 6–7(5), 7–6(4), 6–2 in a tightly contested final.
• Women's Singles Champion:Kim Clijsters claimed victory by defeating Maria Sharapova 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, marking her second title at the event.

Champions and Performances

The 2010 edition saw standout performances from both established and rising stars, with several top-10 players making deep runs in the draw. The tournament offered ATP Masters 1000 points for men and WTA Premier points for women, incentivizing full participation.

• Rafael Nadal:World No. 1 at the time, Nadal survived two tiebreaks and a third-set surge to win his first Cincinnati title, completing a rare career sweep of all nine active Masters 1000 events.
• Kim Clijsters: The Belgian star, ranked No. 4, won her second Western & Southern Open title, having previously triumphed in 2005, and used it as momentum for her US Open defense.
• Mardy Fish: The American reached his first Masters 1000 final, defeating Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic en route, and earned career-high acclaim.
• Maria Sharapova: The Russian reached the final as an unseeded player, defeating Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals, showing a resurgence in form.
• Novak Djokovic: The Serbian star was defeated in the quarterfinals by Mardy Fish, ending his title defense after winning in 2009.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key aspects of the 2010 men’s and women’s singles tournaments:

The disparity in prize money reflects the broader pay gap in tennis at the time, though both champions earned substantial ranking points. The tournament’s placement in the calendar ensured high stakes and competitive depth across both tours.

Why It Matters

The 2010 Western & Southern Open was more than just a tune-up event—it shaped momentum, rankings, and confidence ahead of the US Open. For players like Nadal and Clijsters, victory reinforced their elite status and provided psychological advantages heading into Flushing Meadows.

• Career Milestone: Rafael Nadal’s win made him the first man to win all nine active ATP Masters 1000 titles in the Open Era, a historic achievement.
• US Open Preparation: The event served as a critical warm-up on hard courts, helping players adjust to conditions used at the US Open two weeks later.
• American Representation: Mardy Fish’s run to the final was the best result by an American man since 1995, boosting domestic interest.
• Women’s Tour Resurgence: Kim Clijsters’ win signaled her return to form after maternity leave, foreshadowing her 2010 US Open victory.
• Global Exposure: Broadcast in over 100 countries, the tournament expanded the visibility of the Cincinnati region and U.S. tennis.
• Economic Impact: The event generated an estimated $20 million in local economic impact, supporting tourism and hospitality sectors.

The 2010 Western & Southern Open remains a landmark edition due to its high-level competition, historic achievements, and role in shaping the final Grand Slam narrative of the year.