As she threw her fists in the air, Caty McNally’s face, brow ruffled and mouth agape betrayed a mixture of shock and relief that she would be moving on to the next round at her hometown major. Anyone familiar with McNally’s history at the tournament would assume this is just another win. At just 23 years old, it’s her fifth appearance at the Cincinnati Open, but this one means more.
“Having gone through what I have in the last year and a half, I think I’m more grateful now,” said McNally.
Following her last showing at the tournament back in 2022, she was on track for a strong end to her season, going on to make it to the U.S. Open doubles finals alongside Taylor Townsend and reaching a career high singles ranking of no. 54 later that spring. After rebuilding her strength from a case of COVID at the top of the year, she went into 2023 feeling healthy and hopeful, but a season ending elbow injury had different plans.