# 2021 Western & Southern Open – Women's singles

Ashleigh Barty defeated Jil Teichmann in the final, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2021 Cincinnati Masters. Barty did not drop a set en route to her first Cincinnati Masters title. It was her fifth and last title of the season, her third WTA 1000 title, and her 13th career WTA Tour singles title.
Victoria Azarenka was the defending champion, but lost in the third round to Barty.
Angelique Kerber contested her 1000th match in her professional career in the quarterfinals against Petra Kvitová; she won the match after Kvitová retired.
This was the final tournament in which former world No. 4 and British No. 1 Johanna Konta competed before her retirement. She was defeated in the first round by Karolína Muchová.

## Seeds

The top eight seeds received a bye into the second round.
    01. Ashleigh Barty (champion)
    02. Naomi Osaka (third round)
    03. Aryna Sabalenka (second round)
    04. Elina Svitolina (second round)
    05. Karolína Plíšková (semifinals)
    06. Iga Świątek (second round)
    07. Bianca Andreescu (second round)
    08. Garbiñe Muguruza (third round)
    09. Barbora Krejčíková (quarterfinals)
    10. Belinda Bencic (quarterfinals)
    11. Petra Kvitová (quarterfinals, retired)
    12. Simona Halep (second round, withdrew)
    13. Jennifer Brady (second round, retired)
    14. Victoria Azarenka (third round)
    15. Elise Mertens (second round)
    16. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (withdrew)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Ashleigh Barty | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Barbora Krejčíková | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Barbora Krejčíková | 2 | 4 | 1 | Ashleigh Barty | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | | | | | Angelique Kerber | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| | Angelique Kerber | 6 | 3 | | Angelique Kerber | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| 11 | Petra Kvitová | 4 | 3$^r$ | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Petra Kvitová | 4 | 3$^r$ | | | | | 1 | Ashleigh Barty | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | WC | Jil Teichmann | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Karolína Plíšková | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | WC | Jil Teichmann | 3 | 1 |
| | Paula Badosa | 5 | 0$^r$ | | | | | | | | |
| | Paula Badosa | 5 | 0$^r$ | 5 | Karolína Plíšková | 2 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | WC | Jil Teichmann | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| 10 | Belinda Bencic | 3 | 2 | WC | Jil Teichmann | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| WC | Jil Teichmann | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals |
| | | | | | 1 | A Barty | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | A Sasnovich | 2 | 6 | 1 | Q | H Watson | 4 | 6$^3$ | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | H Watson | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | 1 | A Barty | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | A Riske | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 14 | V Azarenka | 0 | 2 | | | | | |
| Q | L Fernandez | 2 | 2 | | | A Riske | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | L Samsonova | 2 | 3 | | 14 | V Azarenka | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | V Azarenka | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | A Barty | 6 | 6 |
| 9 | B Krejčíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | B Krejčíková | 2 | 4 |
| | D Kasatkina | 3 | 2 | | 9 | B Krejčíková | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | C McNally | 6$^3$ | 6$^1$ | | | D Yastremska | 1 | 6$^5$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Yastremska | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ | | | | | | 9 | B Krejčíková | 6 | 6$^5$ | 6 | | | | |
| Q | C Garcia | 7$^9$ | 4 | 6 | | | | | 8 | G Muguruza | 1 | 7$^7$ | 2 | | | | |
| WC | S Stephens | 6$^7$ | 6 | 4 | Q | C Garcia | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8 | G Muguruza | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals |
| | | | | | 4 | E Svitolina | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Sakkari | 2 | 2 | | | A Kerber | 7 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Kerber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | A Kerber | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | J Ostapenko | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Ostapenko | 6 | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| | T Zidanšek | 5 | 1 | | | J Ostapenko | 6$^2$ | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Alexandrova | 3 | 6$^3$ | | 13 | J Brady | 7$^7$ | 4$^r$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | J Brady | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Kerber | 6 | 3 |
| 11 | P Kvitová | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | P Kvitová | 4 | 3$^r$ |
| | M Keys | 5 | 4 | | 11 | P Kvitová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Kudermetova | 6 | 6 | | | V Kudermetova | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | J Paolini | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | 11 | P Kvitová | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | O Jabeur | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | O Jabeur | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | A Kontaveit | 2 | 6 | 5 | | O Jabeur | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | I Świątek | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals |
| | | | | | 5 | Ka Plíšková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Y Putintseva | 6 | 6 | | | Y Putintseva | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Zhang | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | 5 | Ka Plíšková | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | |
| | J Pegula | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Pegula | 4 | 6$^5$ | | | | |
| SE | C Giorgi | 2 | 2 | | | J Pegula | w/o | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Linette | 4 | 6 | 1 | 12 | S Halep | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | S Halep | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ka Plíšková | 7 | 2 |
| 15 | E Mertens | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | P Badosa | 5 | 0$^r$ |
| | N Podoroska | 3 | 4 | | 15 | E Mertens | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | S Stosur | 3 | 3 | | | E Rybakina | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Rybakina | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | E Rybakina | 2 | 6$^5$ | | | | |
| | P Badosa | 4 | 6 | 7$^{11}$ | | | | | | | P Badosa | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | |
| | P Martić | 6 | 4 | 6$^9$ | | P Badosa | 5 | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | A Sabalenka | 7 | 2 | 6$^4$ | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals |
| | | | | | 7 | B Andreescu | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Muchová | 3 | 7$^7$ | 6 | | K Muchová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Konta | 6 | 6$^5$ | 2 | | | | | | | K Muchová | 5 | 1$^r$ | | | | | |
| | D Collins | 4 | 1$^r$ | | | | | | | 10 | B Bencic | 7 | 2 | | | | | |
| | S Rogers | 6 | 2 | | | S Rogers | 6$^1$ | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Vondroušová | 3 | 5 | | 10 | B Bencic | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | B Bencic | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | B Bencic | 3 | 2 |
| LL | R Peterson | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | WC | J Teichmann | 6 | 6 |
| WC | B Pera | 6 | 6 | | WC | B Pera | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J Teichmann | 6 | 6 | | WC | J Teichmann | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Cîrstea | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | WC | J Teichmann | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | S-w Hsieh | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | 2 | N Osaka | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | |
| | C Gauff | 6 | 6 | | | C Gauff | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | N Osaka | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

## Qualifying
### Seeds

* Viktorija Golubic (first round)
* Zhang Shuai (qualified)
* Liudmila Samsonova (qualified)
* Rebecca Peterson (qualifying competition, lucky loser)
* Kateřina Siniaková (withdrew)
* Donna Vekić (qualifying competition)
* Kristina Mladenovic (first round)
* Tereza Martincová (first round)
* Caroline Garcia (qualified)
* Anastasija Sevastova (first round, retired)
* Heather Watson (qualified)
* Andrea Petkovic (qualifying competition)
* Leylah Annie Fernandez (qualified)
* Hsieh Su-wei (qualified)
* Marie Bouzková (qualifying competition)
* Camila Osorio (first round)

### Qualifiers

* Caroline Garcia
* Zhang Shuai
* Liudmila Samsonova
* Heather Watson
* Hsieh Su-wei
* Jasmine Paolini
* Aliaksandra Sasnovich
* Leylah Annie Fernandez

### Lucky loser

* Rebecca Peterson

### Draw
#### First qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 1 | Viktorija Golubic | 2 | 6 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Fiona Ferro | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Fiona Ferro | 6 | 2 | 6 | | Fiona Ferro | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| | | | | | 9 | Caroline Garcia | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| WC | Alycia Parks | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | Caroline Garcia | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 9 | Caroline Garcia | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | |

#### Second qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 2 | Zhang Shuai | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| PR | Yaroslava Shvedova | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| PR | Yaroslava Shvedova | 2 | 4 | | 2 | Zhang Shuai | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| | | | | | 15 | Marie Bouzková | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| | Polona Hercog | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 | Marie Bouzková | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Marie Bouzková | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |

#### Third qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 3 | Liudmila Samsonova | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | Vera Zvonareva | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| | Vera Zvonareva | 2 | 5 | 3 | Liudmila Samsonova | 7 | 7$^7$ |
| | | | | | Anna Blinkova | 5 | 6$^1$ |
| | Anna Blinkova | 6 | 6 | | Anna Blinkova | 5 | 6$^1$ |
| 16 | Camila Osorio | 3 | 0 | | | | |

#### Fourth qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 4 | Rebecca Peterson | 7 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Astra Sharma | 5 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Astra Sharma | 5 | 3 | | 4 | Rebecca Peterson | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | 11 | Heather Watson | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| WC | Katie Volynets | 7 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Heather Watson | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| 11 | Heather Watson | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |

#### Fifth qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| Alt | Kristie Ahn | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | |
| | Lauren Davis | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Lauren Davis | 4 | 6 | 6 | | Lauren Davis | 0 | 4 |
| | | | | | 14 | Hsieh Su-wei | 6 | 6 |
| WC | Peyton Stearns | 6$^3$ | 4 | | 14 | Hsieh Su-wei | 6 | 6 |
| 14 | Hsieh Su-wei | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | |

#### Sixth qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 6 | Donna Vekić | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Christina McHale | 4 | 1 | | | | |
| | Christina McHale | 4 | 1 | 6 | Donna Vekić | 6$^2$ | 2 |
| | | | | | Jasmine Paolini | 7$^7$ | 6 |
| | Jasmine Paolini | 6 | 2 | | Jasmine Paolini | 7$^7$ | 6 |
| 10 | Anastasija Sevastova | 1 | 1$^r$ | | | | |

#### Seventh qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 7 | Kristina Mladenovic | 4 | 5 | | | | |
| | Aliaksandra Sasnovich | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | Aliaksandra Sasnovich | 6 | 7 | | Aliaksandra Sasnovich | 7 | 6 |
| | | | | 12 | Andrea Petkovic | 5 | 2 |
| WC | Emma Navarro | 6$^3$ | 4 | 12 | Andrea Petkovic | 5 | 2 |
| 12 | Andrea Petkovic | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | |

#### Eighth qualifier

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition | Qualifying competition |
| 8 | Tereza Martincová | 3 | 5 | | | | |
| | Elena-Gabriela Ruse | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | Elena-Gabriela Ruse | 6 | 7 | | Elena-Gabriela Ruse | 2 | 0 |
| | | | | 13 | Leylah Annie Fernandez | 6 | 6 |
| | Irina-Camelia Begu | 3 | 3 | 13 | Leylah Annie Fernandez | 6 | 6 |
| 13 | Leylah Annie Fernandez | 6 | 6 | | | | |