To celebrate the start of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati this week, Elena Dementieva and Kim “call it a comeback” Clijsters were marooned in the middle of an amusement park’s fountain. Good times!

I love the WTA’s breathless description:

“Rising high above the ground, a special tennis court was placed on a platform in the middle of the fountain set against the “Eiffel Tower” at the Kings Island entrance. They rallied against each other while literally chasing tennis balls through the fountain, giving onlookers a show of a lifetime. With “Fountain Tennis”, Sony Ericsson was once again able to take the sport from the confines of the tennis court to a new audience and unexplored environment.”

Really, this is why the players need their own union – so they can stop being treated like circus acrobats.

“Wow, girls, that was the show of a lifetime! Now sign the damn balls.”

And a video:

Kim Clijsters plays Marion Bartoli on Monday evening in Cincy. Click here for the tournament website.