Federer, Nadal among players returning to Western & Southern Open

Seven-time champion Roger Federer (pictured) headlines the men’s field for the Western & Southern Open in Mason, along with two-time titlist Andy Murray, 2013 winner Rafael Nadal, and defending champion Marin Cilic. GREG LYNCH/2015

Seven-time champion Roger Federer (pictured) headlines the men’s field for the Western & Southern Open in Mason, along with two-time titlist Andy Murray, 2013 winner Rafael Nadal, and defending champion Marin Cilic. GREG LYNCH/2015

The player fields for the Western & Southern Open were announced today and include the 44 highest ranked players from the ATP World Tour as well as 39 of the 43 highest ranked players on the WTA.

The initial field includes 14 Grand Slam winners who have captured a combined 69 Major titles.

Seven-time champion Roger Federer headlines the men’s field along with two-time titlist Andy Murray, 2013 winner Rafael Nadal, and defending champion Marin Cilic.

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova, who will become the WTA’s No. 1 player on Monday, headlines a women’s entry list that includes three players who have been ranked No. 1: Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams. Kerber and Williams are two of seven Grand Slam winners in the women’s field.

Of the 83 total entrants announced Thursday between the men’s and women’s fields, 39 players have won a combined 58 tournament titles so far in 2017. The entry list includes eight total players who have been ranked No. 1, and 14 who have won a Grand Slam tournament.

Eleven Americans are included on the Western & Southern Open entry list.

The official draw for both men’s and women’s tournaments will occur at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Aug. 11, prior to the first qualifying rounds set to take place the following day.