Why you might see a Serena Williams GLP-1 ad fly over Cincinnati Open

MASON − If you are attending the Cincinnati Open or visiting Kings Island this week, you might see 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams.

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Williams will be on the court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in the WTA doubles tournament alongside her sister, Venus.

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She’s has also been seen as a Ro (formerly known as Roman) advertisement showing Williams injecting herself with a GLP-1 medication flying over Mason the last few days.

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Tumaini Carayol, a reporter for The Guardian, captured the banner flying over Mason on Friday afternoon while Venus Williams was playing her first-round match.

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“It is impossible to explain how ridiculous this sport is,” Carayol wrote on X.

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Day two of a GLP-1 weight loss drug commercial banner depicting Serena Williams injecting herself being flown over the grounds of the Cincinnati Open. Venus Williams is currently on-court.

It is impossible to explain how ridiculous this sport is. pic.twitter.com/3yxA2inm84

— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 14, 2026

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On Thursday, Aug. 13, the same banner was spotted by tennis journalist Blair Henley.

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Serena injecting herself from the skies in Cincy… pic.twitter.com/XOcvqXyTzx

— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) August 13, 2026

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Reactions to the advertisement ranged from “disturbing” to “gross” while some questioned if the partnership with the online telehealth platform is the focus of Serena’s comeback.

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Williams, 44, came out retirement earlier this summer. She played doubles in the HSBC Championships in London with partner Victoria Mboko and in the VANDA Pharmaceuticals Berlin Open alongside Karolina Muchova. The Cincinnati Open will be her first appearance since suffering a knee injury at Wimbledon.

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Last year, Williams went on the TODAY Show and revealed she started using GLP-1s to manage her weight post-pregnancy. GLP-1s were developed to treat type 2 diabetes but are now widely prescribed for weight loss. Serena was the most high-profile athlete to voice her use and support of the drugs. In February, Williams starred in Ro’s first-ever Super Bowl commercial promoting GLP-1 medication for weight loss.

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At last week’s National Bank Open in Toronto, there were Ozempic advertisements on the walls behind the players.

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Serena and Venus Williams will play in the first round of the Cincinnati Open doubles draw against Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why you might see a Serena Williams GLP-1 ad fly over Cincinnati Open