Three-time major champion Andy Murray and two-time winner Victoria Azarenka, both of whom have played limited schedules of late, will play the final major US Open tuneup in Cincinnati after receiving wild cards.
They are the first wild cards distributed by the promotionally-known Western and Southern Open, an ATP Masters event and WTA Premier 5 tournament.
“The resumes for Vika and Andy really speak for themselves,” tournament director Andre Silva said in a news release. “I think many tennis fans are eager to see each of them back on the court, and we are pleased to offer them both wild cards to play the Western & Southern Open.”
Murray, a two-time Cincinnati champion, received a wild card for a third successive tournament; he is slated to begin his summer hard-court swing in Washington next week before playing in Toronto immediately after. The Scotsman is continuing his return from a lengthy hip injury; he pulled out of Wimbledon just before the tournament started.
His ranking has fallen to No. 838, but he can use his protected ranking and continue to receive wild cards to reach tour-level events.
Azarenka, who defeated Serena Williams to win the Cincinnati title five years ago, is likely to begin her hard-court season in San Jose next week. She has played a limited schedule since giving birth in 2016 and dealing with an ensuing custody battle, though she reached the semifinals in her last hard court event, in Miami.
Williams and Roger Federer headline the fields in Cincinnati, where play begins Aug. 13.
