Serena Williams is scheduled to play the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati next month, tournament organizers said on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old is set to use her projected ranking in the tournament.
Williams made her return to the WTA after a year away last month at Wimbledon. While she exited in the first round, Williams has made it clear that she expects to play in the US Open in August.
As a result, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is set to play at the National Bank Open in Toronto from Aug. 6-14.
Both tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati are considered tune-ups for the US Open.
Williams has won the tournament in Cincinnati twice — in 2014 and 2015. This year’s tournament is headlined by world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Also included amongst the field are Victoria Azarenka, Madison Keys, Garbiñe Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova.
Other Grand Slam champions in the women’s draw include Naomi Osaka (who recently signed on for the San Jose tournament), Emma Raducanu, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, Jelena Ostapenko, Barbora Krejcikova, Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
The Western and Southern Open takes place Aug. 13-21.