The Nineteenth-Century Origins
The story begins in 1899 at the Avondale Athletic Club, on land that is now part of Xavier University. Called the Cincinnati Open, its first prizes were Rookwood Pottery, with the men's champion taking home an ale set. It was founded before the first World
Series, Davis Cup, or Indy 500, making it the oldest tennis tournament in the U.S. still played in its original city. It soon adopted the name the “Tri-State Tennis Tournament,” a title it would hold for much of the 20th century. The event quickly became a staple, played on crushed brick dust clay courts and bouncing between venues, but always staying rooted in the Cincinnati area.
The Man Who Saved the Tournament
By the mid-1970s, the tournament was on the brink of collapse. It was briefly held indoors at the Cincinnati Convention Center in 1974 without a women's draw for the first time since 1919. The tournament’s survival and eventual rise to prominence can be largely credited to one man: Paul Flory. A Procter & Gamble executive, Flory took over as tournament director in 1975, a role he performed as a volunteer. His vision and dedication were instrumental. That same year, the tournament moved to the Coney Island amusement park, a quirky but vital step that helped it regain momentum. Flory never accepted a salary, chairing the tournament until his death in 2013 and transforming it into a charitable powerhouse.
Finding a Permanent Home and a New Surface
A pivotal moment came in 1979 when the tournament moved to a dedicated facility in Mason, Ohio, and switched its surface from clay to hard court. This move aligned it with the US Open and solidified its position as a premier preparatory event. The new venue, now known as the Lindner Family Tennis Center, provided the space to grow into the world-class event it is today. The professional era, which began in 1969, brought name changes like the “ATP Championship,” and corporate sponsorships followed, most notably with Western & Southern, whose name graced the tournament from 2002 until 2023. In 2024, the event officially returned to its original name: the Cincinnati Open.
The Proving Ground of Champions
The list of champions in Cincinnati reads like a hall of fame roster. Legends like Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Stefan Edberg have all hoisted the trophy. But no one has dominated the hard courts of Mason like Roger Federer, who has won a record seven titles. His success cemented his status as the unofficial “King of Cincy.” In 2018, Novak Djokovic made history here by defeating Federer to complete the Career Golden Masters, becoming the first player to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. While the headline focuses on the ATP, the tournament's evolution into a combined event with a top-tier WTA 1000 tournament in 2011 has only enhanced its prestige, attracting the biggest names from both tours.
A Modern Powerhouse
Today, the Cincinnati Open is one of the biggest tournaments outside of the four Grand Slams, alongside Indian Wells and Miami. Its stature as an ATP Masters 1000 event means it’s a mandatory stop for top players, offering significant ranking points and prize money. In 2023, after fears it might relocate, new owners committed to keeping the tournament in Mason for the next 25 years, announcing a $260 million renovation project. Beginning in 2025, the tournament expanded to a 12-day format with 96-player draws, mirroring the structure of other premier events and cementing its place as a cornerstone of the summer hard court season.
