Stuart Forster travels to Ohio and experiences a day at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament.
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I had four main takeaways after spending an afternoon at the 2024 Cincinnati Open:
One – There is an astonishing array of things to do beyond simply watching tennis.
Two – It is remarkably easy to interact with some of the world’s leading tennis players during the tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Three – Seeing, hearing and even feeling the prodigious power of a professional tennis player’s serve makes a way more awe-inspiring impression live on the courtside than on TV.
Four – The food and drink options are far classier than those available in the football grounds of England.
All told, attending the Cincinnati Open made a positive impression. Since then, I’ve paid a lot more attention to tennis news and results.
Visiting the Cincinnati Open
There’s a relaxed vibe and a lot to do away from the tennis courts where the pros compete and practice. That includes viewing cookery demonstrations by chefs and listening to live music and player interviews on the fan zone’s stage.
Browsing the extensive choice of dishes available at the food court is another option. Several of the options available are from businesses with Cincinnati roots, including LaRosa’s Pizzeria, Graeter’s ice cream, and Alfio’s Buon Cibo Italian-Argentinian cuisine. I opted for a Three-Way from Skyline Chili (that’s spaghetti with mild Cincinnati chili and a generous serving of grated cheese) and took the plate into the communal seating area known as The Commons.
A choice of bars, cafés and lounges is available. Champagne flows and the official cocktail of the Cincinnati Open is the tequila-based Ace Paloma.
Mini courts present opportunities to pick up a racquet and knock a ball about.
Didn’t bring the right gear for a game against a seven-year-old on the mini-courts? The air-conditioned Cincinnati Open Shop sells chic tennis attire as well as souvenirs.
I strolled in the garden appreciating the colourful flower arrangements and chatted with the Cincinnati Open’s volunteers before viewing players on the practice courts.
It was good to see players signing autographs and posing for selfies with fans.
Sitting in on a press conference, I asked Jessica Pegula what she enjoyed about participating in the Cincinnati Open. “I love the Midwest feel. I love being able to drive places and have my own car: I don’t know if it’s a very American thing to say, but I genuinely love it. It’s my favourite time of the year, the summer hardcourt,” answered the 2024 finalist.
The USA’s second-oldest tennis tournament
The Cincinnati Open was first played in 1899. That makes it the second-oldest tennis tournament in the USA, behind the U.S. Open.
Along with the events at Indian Wells and Miami Open, both held in March, it is one of three 1000-level tournaments in the USA. That means the tournament in Cincy draws some of the sport’s top names.
Recent winners of the men’s singles include Jannick Sinner (2024) and Novak Djokovic (2023). Roger Federer won the Cincinnati Open seven times.
Arnya Sabalenka (2024), Coco Gauff (2023) and Caroline Garcia (2022) have triumphed recently in the women’s singles.
The Cincinnati Open is the USA’s longest-running professional tennis tournament played in the city of its origin.
For a time, the tournament was known as the Cincinnati Masters. It reverted to being called the Cincinnati Open in 2024.
The 2025 Cincinnati Open
In 2025, the duration of the tournament is being extended to almost two weeks (including qualifying). The number of players in the main draw of both the men’s and women’s singles was increased to 96 from 56.
The Lindner Family Tennis Center underwent major renovation ahead of the 2025 Cincinnati Open. That included sinking the 2,300 Champions Court and adding practice courts, taking the total number of courts to 31. The grounds were also re-landscaped and a new entrance added.
I’m grateful to Bob Moran, the Tournament Director, for taking the time to outline developments.
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz are the top-seeded male players participating in 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula are the four top seeds in the 2025 women’s singles.
Cincinnati Open
The Cincinnati Open is an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament. The 2025 Cincinnati Open is from 5-18 August.
Visit the tournament website to view the draw, discover more about the onsite experience and download the tournament’s mobile app.
Cincinnati Open tickets
Tickets for single sessions, multiple days and groups at the Cincinnati Open are among the ticketing options on the Cincinnati Open website.
Lindner Family Tennis Center
The map below shows the location of the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the venue that hosts the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament:
The Lindner Family Tennis Centre is in Mason, approximately 26 miles northeast of Cincinnati’s downtown.
Travel to Cincinnati
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is approximately 39 miles southwest of the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The drive takes approximately 55 minutes along the I-75.
British Airways operates direct flights between London Heathrow and Cincinnati.
Hotels in Cincinnati
Search for and book accommodation near the Lindner Family Tennis Center via the website below:
Books about Cincinnati and Ohio
Looking for reading material with local relevance ahead of visiting Ohio to attend the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament? The following books are available from Amazon:
Cincinnati Aces: The Story of the Western and Southern Open by Gigi Romano.
Cincinnati: Then and Now by Jeff Suess.
The Great Book of Ohio: The Crazy History of Ohio with Amazing Random Facts and Trivia by Bill O’Neill.
Captivating History’s Ohio: A Captivating Guide to the History of Ohio and Ulysses S. Grant.
DK Eyewitness USA guidebook.
Further information
Discover more about things to do and see in the region around the Lindner Family Tennis Center on the Visit Cincy website.
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about my Cincinnati Open tennis tournament. If you are planning to spend time in Cincinnati, you may also be interested in this post about the American Sign Museum.
Stuart Forster, the author and photographer of this post, is a travel writer. He is a contributor to The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Islands in the World. He has written a concise Cincy Region guide and created a short video of the Cincinnati Black Museum Walk of Fame.
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