The Western & Southern Open returns to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason August 12-20, featuring the world’s top men and women professionals. The tournament traces its history back to the first Cincinnati Open in 1899, and more than 100 International Tennis Hall of Famers have played in it over the years.
The Cincinnati Open was initially played at the Avondale Athletic Club, on the site of what is today Xavier University, and moved to the Cincinnati Tennis Club in Walnut Hills for most of the next 60 years. It’s been hosted in Mason since 1979 and is considered to be the oldest U.S. tournament still played in its original city.
The tournament crowned men and women champions through 1973, and then it became a men’s tournament until 1988, before bringing back women players. Roger Federer has won the most men’s singles championships (7) and Clara Louise Zinke the most women’s singles titles (5 between 1923 and 1937).
Viewed by most players as a warmup for the US Open later in August, the Western & Southern Open hosts nearly 200,000 fans from all 50 states and more than 39 countries. The TV broadcast is seen by more than 125 million global viewers in almost 200 markets.
Tournament proceeds have benefited Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center since 1974, raising more than $9 million over that time. An additional $2.5 million-plus has been raised for the UC Cancer Center and for the Inner City Tennis Project.
