Western & Southern Open Tennis Tournament to Remain in Mason, Ohio
In a video announcement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday, Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, the reigning champions of the 2023 Western & Southern Open, confirmed that the prestigious tennis tournament will continue to be held in Mason, Ohio. This news comes as a relief to tennis enthusiasts and the local community who had anxiously awaited the decision regarding the future of the event.
Djokovic expressed his delight in the video, stating, “Your wonderful tournament is staying in Cincinnati.” The tournament, which has been hosted at the Lindner Family Tennis Center since 1979, will witness a significant investment of $260 million to enhance the facility, according to Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports & Entertainment.
The Western & Southern Open will also witness a significant expansion in 2025, with the competition lasting for two weeks and accommodating both men’s and women’s matches. This development aims to further elevate the stature of the tournament and attract a larger audience from around the world.
The decision to keep the tournament in Mason comes after uncertainty arose when the city council in Charlotte, North Carolina, proposed a $400 million, 40-court tennis complex in a bid to lure tournament owner Beemok Capital and secure hosting rights for the event. However, the long-standing history and overwhelming success of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati played a crucial role in solidifying its continuation in Mason.
The video announcement revealed that over 200,000 spectators attended the 2023 Western & Southern Open, emphasizing the significant support and enthusiasm from the local community. Moran highlighted the importance of historical significance, saying, “The history is such an important piece of this event…the community really stepped up to welcome us and make us feel how important this is.”
Beemok Capital will invest more than $130 million in the Lindner Family Tennis Center’s expansion, while state and local authorities will match this investment with an additional $130 million. This funding will come from various sources, including $50 million from the state, $50 million from Warren County, and $30 million from the city of Mason, according to Warren County Commissioner Dave Young.
Negotiations over the past nine months were critical in clinching the deal, with Warren County devising an economic development plan that matched Charlotte’s proposal. Young expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I felt like I was a man on an island for a long time…ultimately it feels pretty good to say we were right.”
With the agreement now in place, the Western & Southern Open will continue in Mason for the next 25 years, offering stability and excitement for both the players and the community. Mason Mayor Barbara Spaeth expressed her joy, calling it “the best news that we could have had.”
The Western & Southern Open, renowned for attracting top tennis stars such as Venus and Serena Williams and Roger Federer, proudly stands as the nation’s longest-running professional tennis tournament held in its original city. Next year, the event will celebrate its grand 125th anniversary, marking a remarkable milestone in the sport’s history.
As the story develops, The Enquirer will provide updates with further information.