A look back at the Cincinnati Open

One hundred and twenty-six years ago, Myrtle McAteer of Pittsburgh defeated Juliette Atkingson of Brooklyn, New York with a score of 6-4, 6-2, in the inaugural Cincinnati Open final. Myrtle’s victory marked the first Cincinnati Open women’s singles champion. Founded in 1899, the Cincinnati Open is a bastion of tradition since this tournament is the second oldest in the United States, behind only the US Open. The 2025 edition of the tournament was the 124th installment. In 1935, the tournament was suspended due to the Great Depression.

In the larger political realm, the Depression was marked by high unemployment and economic hardship. Nevertheless, this triggered a significant shift in government response with the introduction of the Second New Deal by FDR. Fifty-four years ago, Stan Smith from Pasadena, California defeated Juan Gisbert from Barcelona, Spain with a score of 7-6 (0), 6-3 in the 1971 Men’s Singles Championship at the Cincinnati Open. In 1981, the legendary pair of Stan Smith and Bob Lutz (No. 1 seeds) — one of the most successful doubles teams of all time — lost the final to John McEnroe and Fedi Taygan (No. 2 seeds), 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Above: A look at the 2025 Cincinnati Open men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz. Photo credit: Mauricio Paz.

As we pay homage to our champions and legends, we move forward and marvel at the Cincinnati Open campus transformation. At more than forty acres, the campus is now twice as large as it was for the 2024 edition. Beginning in 2026, the campus facility will be open for year-round public use with extra events outside of tournament weeks.

The evolution and work of the campus facility was divided into nine sub-projects, and the construction was completed efficiently in 11 months. The new additions to the Lindner Family Center this year include a Champion’s Court with a 2,300-seat sunken stadium just inside the new south entrance and a sleek state-of-the-art continuous façade that wraps both Center Court and Grandstand Court, giving the two largest stadiums a sophisticated elegance. Throughout the grounds, extensive landscaping nourishes a park-like feel, with concrete replacing asphalt to brighten the campus. Furthermore, the enhanced 56,000 square-foot Clubhouse with a futuristic two-story player center, restaurant, and indoor/outdoor lounges are some of the amenities players and fans are raving about.

Above: A look at the 2025 Cincinnati Open women's singles champion Iga Swiatek. Photo credit: Mauricio Paz.

Coco Gauff commented on how much she appreciated the reimagined areas for players to “chill” and find a quiet moment. The Pavilion is a new permanent shaded structure that serves as a gathering place in the heart of the expanded campus with Adirondack chairs and a big screen for match viewing, alongside ads for Cincinnati staples like Graeter’s Ice Cream. Players like Joao Fonseca, Gael Monfils, and Daniil Medvedev stayed to train at the premier facilities well past their participation in the tournament. The fact that players remained after losses is indicative of the investment and excellence driven by Beemok Capital CEO Benjamin W. Navarro, along with the City of Mason, Warren County, and the State of Ohio.

Ben Shelton of Gainesville, Florida spoke with Florida Tennis after his round of 16 victory (6-4, 6-4) over Jiri Lehecka. Asked about his ideal first serve percentage, Ben said: “I should be around 65% and if I am around 70%, it shows me I am not going after it.” In other words, for Ben, first serve speed trumps higher first serve percentage. His live arm and easy power bring joy to U.S. tennis.

Above: Ben Shelton gets love from the Cincinnati Open crowd. Photo credit: Mauricio Paz.

Florida Tennis extends thanks to Toni Woods and Phillip S. Smith for providing valuable information about the evolution of professional tennis in Cincinnati. As a creative idea, a proposal was made to develop a Cincinnati Open Museum at the new campus site.

In the thirteen newly constructed storefronts at the tournament site, the iconic Graeter’s Ice Cream company stands proud. Since 1870, Graeter’s has been making ice cream two and a half gallons at a time in their unique French Pot freezers. Their classic brand is an ideal partner of the Cincinnati Open. The tournament organizers have done an excellent job at promoting the past, present, and future of tennis. Congratulations to the 2025 Cincinnati Open Singles Champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. We look forward to the next world-class Cincinnati Open event starting August 10, 2026.

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Written by Florida Tennis contributor Guillermo Morales-Rubert.