Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women's Open

Men's: July 26-August 3, 2008
Women's: August 9-17, 2008

Facility Location:
Lindner Family Tennis Center
5460 Courseview Drive
Mason, OH 45040

Off-Site Offices:
250 East Fifth Street, Suite 1310
Cincinnati, Ohio
45202 USA
Phone: +1(513)651-0303
Fax: +1(513)651-3088
info@cincytennis.com

Men's
Surface: Hardcourt
Draw size: Singles 56
Prize money: $2,750,000
Modus: Best of Three through final

Women's
Surface: Hardcourt
Draw size: Singles 32
Prize money: $175,000
Modus: Best of Three through final

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates for 2008?

Which matches are played on which days during the W&SFG Masters?

Are tickets available?

Where will my seat be?

When do I get my tickets?

When will my ticket purchase appear on my credit card?

Is my ticket cost tax deductible?

Where do I park? What's the cost?

Where is the Lindner Family Tennis Center located?

When's the best day or session to attend?

When do the sessions begin and end?

When do the gates open?

Does my child need a ticket?

Will one ticket allow me to watch both the afternoon and evening sessions?

What happens if it rains?

Do you offer discounts?

What happens at Kids Day during the Men's event?

What happens at High School Day during the Men's event?

Do I need to bring a racquet for the High School Day or Kids Day clinic?

How can I get a tent or a suite at either tournament?

How is the men's draw made?

How is the men's schedule made?

When is the schedule made?

Can you tell me now when a particular player will play?

During the Men's event, when is the first round played? When's the second round played?

During the Men's event, what will I see on Saturday? On Sunday?

Can I watch matches on other courts?

On how many courts are matches played?

Can I watch players practice? How do I know who's practicing when and where?

How does the Lindner Family Tennis Center compare to other tennis facilities?

I'm buying single session tickets. Where will I sit? Can I sit down next to the court?

Can I buy a seat in the shade?

How does a player qualify to play in the Men's event?

How do I volunteer?

When are ball kid tryouts?

Can I get housing during the tournament?

How do I get a media credential?

Is the tournament televised?

Was the tournament always called the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters?

Where can I play tennis while I'm in Cincinnati for the tournaments?

What food or beverages are permitted to be brought onto the grounds of the Lindner Family Tennis Center?

What are the dates for 2008?
Men's: July 26-August 3, 2008
Women's: August 9-17, 2008

Which matches are played on which days during the W&SFG Masters?
Certain matches are scheduled for particular days. Click here to see an explanation.

Are tickets available?
Tickets currently are available for every session of the tournament, although many sessions will sell out. Ordering early helps assure you of a seat.

Where will my seat be?
Your exact seat location isn't known until the order is processed, rather than when it is taken. Processing begins in the spring of each year. It can take between a few weeks and few days to process a order once it is received. Ordering as early as possible is the best way to get the best seat possible.

When do I get my tickets?
Ticket stock is usually available to the tournament in mid-June. Tickets are then printed and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. Call the ticketing department (513-651-0303) with any further questions.

When will my ticket purchase appear on my credit card?
In most cases, your ticket purchase will appear on your next credit card statement. It will be referred to as "Tennis for Charity, Inc./Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati."

Is my ticket cost tax deductible?
No. Although the tournament is played for the benefit of charity, ticket costs are not tax deductible.

Where do I park? What's the cost?
Parking is provided at the site and is included in the cost of the ticket. Single-session purchasers, as well as purchasers of Mini Ticket Packages (such as the Monday-Tuesday package, the Wednesday-Thursday package, the Finals Weekend package, etc.) park in Lot C and require no parking pass. Box, Loge and Terrace Full Series holders will be sent a parking pass with their tickets. Lot A is reserved for Center Court Box seat account holders and two Lot A parking passes are provided per Center Court Box. Lot B is reserved for Loge and Terrace full series holders, and one Lot B pass is provided for every two series seats within one's account.

Where is the Lindner Family Tennis Center located?
It can be seen from Interstate 71, directly across from Paramount's Kings Island, about 30 minutes northeast of downtown Cincinnati. It's about one hour from Columbus, Ohio, and about 30 minutes from Dayton, Ohio. Click here for detailed directions, or try www.mapquest.com.

Lindner Family Tennis Center
5460 Courseview Drive
Mason, OH 45040

When's the best day or session to attend?
Every fan finds a different day to his or her liking. For both tournaments, there are more matches earlier in the week and during day sessions. As the week progresses, the excitement builds as the field narrows and the players fight to win the coveted title.

When do the sessions begin and end?
On the tickets page (Click here), under single session tickets for men and single session tickets for women, you'll find the start times of each session. There are no definite session-ending times, as all sessions last until the matches for that session are completed or the session is determined to be completed (due to rain or other circumstance). In general, the sessions which start at 11 a.m. usually last until about 5 p.m., and the sessions which start at 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. usually last until approximately 11 p.m. Again, ending times are dependant on the length of the matches scheduled for that session. (Gates open two hours before each sessions starts.)

When do the gates open?
Depending on the tournament (men’s or women’s) and the session, gates open at different times. Generally, the gates are open one hour prior to the start of each session of the W&SFG Women’s Open, and two hours prior to the start of each session of the W&SFG Masters.

Does my child need a ticket?
Children over the age of 12 months require a ticket.

Will one ticket allow me to watch both the afternoon and evening sessions?
No. You will need a ticket to attend each session. Please be prepared to present your ticket to the usher for entry to Center Court.

What happens if it rains?
One completed match on Center Court shall constitute a complete session of play. If play is postponed without the completion of a match, single-session ticket buyers will be given a ticket to the same session the following year, provided some conditions are met. Box, series, complimentary and sponsor tickets are exempted from this policy. Consult the back of your ticket for details.

Do you offer discounts?
A "$4-off" discount is provided to members of the USTA for several sessions, and large groups are given discounts for certain sessions. Please call the tournament (513-651-0303) for information on discounts.

What happens at Kids Days during the Men's event?
Kids Day is for kids 14 & under and features a fun and instructional clinic with players. Tickets for Kids Day are half-price, and the ticket also includes a seat for the matches that session.

What happens at High School Days during the tournaments?
High School Days are much like Kids Days in that kids get a fun and instructional clinic with players, although it is more geared to the high school player. The ticket also includes a seat for the matches that session. At the men's event, lunch will be provided by Skyline Chili for those who register in advance.

Do I need to bring a racquet for the High School Day or Kids Day clinic?
No. Everything is provided and only a few attendees will actually be on court.

How can I get a tent or a suite at either tournament?
Tents and suites at the tournament are excellent ways to host a group of clients, customers, or even friends and family at this world-class event. Contact the tournament at 513-651-0303 for more information on tents and suites.

How is the draw made?
The draw is made the same way at every tournament. First, the seeds (the highest-ranked players in the draw) are placed in the draw (No. 1 on the first line, No. 2 on the last line and then the others in alternating order on pre-determined lines). Once the seeds are in place, the other players are drawn at random and placed on the empty lines -- starting at the top and going down the draw until it is filled.

How is the men's schedule made?
The schedule is made with input from the Tour, the players, television, and the tournament. The international television broadcasters often request certain matches be played on courts from which they can broadcast. The tournament makes requests based on what it feels is in the best interest of the fans.

When is the schedule made?
During each tournament, the schedule is made daily and usually is available around 6 p.m. It is then posted on this web site and is made immediately available to the Telecommunications Committee (513-651-0303), the media, etc.

Can you tell me now when a particular player will play?
No. In a single elimination tournament, only one player advances and since no one knows who will win or lose, no one knows who will play when.

During the Men's event, when is the first round played? When's the second round played?
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the first and second rounds will be played Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The round of 16 is completed on Thursday, the quarterfinals are played on Friday, the semifinals are played on Saturday and the finals are played on Sunday. Click here to see an explanation.

During the Men's event, what will I see on Saturday? On Sunday?
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Saturday day session will feature one singles semifinal match, followed by one doubles semifinal match. The Saturday night session also will feature one singles semifinal match, followed by one doubles semifinal match. On Sunday, the singles final and the doubles final will be played.

Can I watch matches on other courts?
Yes. The Lindner Family Tennis Center has 10 courts, and matches are generally played on several of those courts. When you buy a ticket, you buy a reserved seat on Center Court, but you also are free to watch matches on other courts. Generally, matches are played on other courts until the Friday night session. On Friday night, Saturday day, Saturday night and Sunday, matches are only played on Center Court. (Note: A "grounds pass" ticket does not provide a seat on Center Court, but does allow you access to the other courts. Grounds passes are sold only after all reserved tickets are sold.)

On how many courts are matches played?
Depending on the day, matches may be played on up to four or five courts.

Can I watch players practice? How do I know who's practicing when and where?
Some courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center were built specifically as practice courts. Watching practice has become a real fan favorite because fans can get so close to the stars and see them in a relaxed environment. An electronic board near the player entrance (on the west side of the Lindner Family Tennis Center) updates fans on who is practicing on which courts.

How does the Lindner Family Tennis Center compare to other tennis facilities?
The Lindner Family Tennis Center and the venues for the four Grand Slams are the only venues in tennis with more than two permanent stadiums. Cincinnati has three permanent stadiums: Center Court (capacity: 10,700), Grandstand Court (capacity: 5,000) and Court #3 (capacity: 2,000). All three have lights to allow for night play. The site has a total of 10 courts and matches may be played on up to five of those courts (depending on the day and the tightness of the schedule).

I'm buying single session tickets. Where will I sit? Can I sit down next to the court?
Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center is divided into three levels: The box level, the loge level, and the terrace level. The box level, the loge level and the first five rows of the terrace level are for fans who are buying tickets for the entire tournament, not just one or a few sessions. Also, there are waiting lists for the box and loge levels. However, please keep in mind that the Center Court stadium was specifically built for tennis and seats only 10,500 -- so even the last row provides a great view of the action. Also keep in mind that the earlier you order tickets, the lower your seats will be in the terrace level.

Can I buy a seat in the shade?
Some seats in the upper level of Center Court are under shade. These are available by request only, but there are a limited number of them.

How does a player qualify to play in the Men's event?
Players in the world's top 44 get directly into the main draw. Seven spots in the draw are filled by qualifiers -- those players who successfully win two matches during the qualifying matches on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the start of the main draw. Four spots are filled by "wild cards," granted at the tournament's discretion. And one spot is left open in case a player who would have had to qualify reaches the semifinals at ATP Masters Canada (played the week before Cincinnati). (Why? That player can't play qualifying in Cincinnati if he's still playing in Canada, and reaching the semifinal of a ATP Masters Series event should be enough to get you in the next big event. It's called the "special exempt rule.")

That makes a total of 56 -- 44 direct acceptances, 7 qualifiers, 4 wild cards and 1 special exempt.

How do I volunteer?
Call the tournament (513-651-0303) and volunteer information will be mailed to you providing all the details and a list of committees needing volunteers.

When are ball kid tryouts?
Ball kid tryouts are generally in mid-June. A child must be at least 12 to be a ball kid. Call the tournament (513-651-0303) for more information or to receive a packet on volunteering as a ball kid.

Can I get housing during the tournament?
Yes. The tournament has formed alliances with several excellent hotels near the tournament site, offering special rates for fans. Information on all these hotels is on this web site, under tournament information. Call the tournament housing coordinator at 513-651-0303 for more information or to book a room.

How do I get a media credential?
For information on applying for media credentials, please contact the tournament at marketing@cincytennis.com. Notification of confirmed or denied credentials will be made in writing.

Is the tournament televised?
The men's W&SFG Masters is seen on ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel in the United States and on various networks in 160 countries around the world. Please consult your local listings for air times.

Has the tournament always been called the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women's Open?
No. The Cincinnati tournament has had many different names since its beginning on September 18, 1899, including the Cincinnati Open, the Tri-State Tennis Championship, the Western Tennis Championship, the ATP Championship and Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.

Where can I play tennis while I'm in Cincinnati for the tournaments?
Click here for a list of places to play.

What food or beverages are permitted to be brought onto the grounds of the Lindner Family Tennis Center?
No food or beverages are allowed to be brought onto the grounds except for 30-ounce (or smaller) water bottles (one per person), provided they are clear and made of plastic. Glass bottles, cans, coolers, ice chests, thermoses and picnic baskets are not permitted.