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CINCINNATI, USA—The Cincinnati Open is officially underway—and fans walking through the gates this week may barely recognize the place.

The Lindner Family Tennis Center has undergone a dramatic $260 million transformation ahead of this year’s event. A sunken show court, a sleek new two-story player Clubhouse, an expanded Grandstand, and sprawling shaded plazas are just a few of the upgrades that have completely reimagined the site. And it’s all part of a larger vision to make this venue the beating heart of tennis in the Midwest.

Read More: The Cincinnati Open will be bigger this year, yet still in a place that feels comfortably small

Tuesday marked the start of ATP and WTA qualifying rounds, with players like Nikoloz Basilashvili, Adrian Mannarino and women’s top seed Laura Siegemund among those scoring wins on the newly upgraded P&G Stadium Court. The court now sports a striking new color palette: a darker navy-blue surface set against a bright cerulean backdrop.

Behind the scenes, the rebuild has been intense. After Beemok Capital and Ben Navarro acquired the tournament’s sanction two years ago—with plans to move it to Charlotte—the event’s future in Ohio looked uncertain. But a new deal with the the City of Mason, Warren County and the State of Ohio ensured the tournament would stay in its longtime home. What followed was a total site overhaul, with crews reportedly working until just days before the first serve to complete the renovations.

A new sunken stadium court, and a fresh new colorway, await fans during the 2025 Cincinnati Open.

A new sunken stadium court, and a fresh new colorway, await fans during the 2025 Cincinnati Open.

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Tournament director Bob Moran credited strong local support for making it all possible.

“We have great support from the city of Mason, Warren County, and the state of Ohio,” Moran told Tennis.com. “We built pickleball courts, we built padel courts… We want to be the heart of tennis for the Midwest.”

That vision is already coming to life. Tuesday’s qualifying action served as a dry run for the new setup, as staff worked through the inevitable kinks of opening day. On P&G Stadium Court, Basilashvili edged out Christopher Eubanks in a tense three-setter, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (2), while No. 5 seed Mannarino cruised past Mitchell Krueger 6-1, 6-1. Over on the expanded Grandstand—now with 5,000 additional seat backs—Arthur Fery and Lloyd Harris advanced in three-set battles. In WTA qualifying, top seeds Laura Siegemund, Kamilla Rakhimova and Solana Sierra all advanced in straight sets.

These players were among the first to experience the tournament’s biggest upgrade: a brand-new two-story Clubhouse. Built from scratch and connected to the main stadium via a walking bridge, the Clubhouse includes a full dining area, multiple lounges and upgraded fitness and locker room spaces.

The former Clubhouse has also been renovated to expand amenities for athletes, which is crucial—this year, the singles draws have expanded from 56 to 96 players, and the tournament has grown from nine days 15 as a part of the broader ATP and WTA calendar expansion..

That means more players, more fans and more action. Organizers estimate that more than 600 additional people—players, coaches and staff—will be using the player areas this year alone. Campus acreage has doubled to over 40 acres, now housing 31 outdoor courts, a six-court indoor facility and new pickleball and padel courts.

The upgrades aren’t just for the pros. Fans will enjoy the new permanent Pavilion, improved landscaping with locally grown flora, shaded rest areas and fresh concrete walkways replacing old asphalt paths. The goal: a park-like atmosphere where tennis blends with nature and community.

Cincinnati Open qualifying rounds run through Wednesday, with the main draw taking place August 7-18, 2025. Tune into Tennis Channel for full coverage, including ATP qualifying and all main draw action.