We are in the first year of these 12-day back-to-back WTA/ATP 1000 level events in Canada (Toronto and Montreal) and Cincinnati so it is a bit overwhelming to keep up with what’s happening.
While the men are slugging it out in Toronto and the women in Montreal now through Thursday, the Cincinnati Open is opening its doors in preparation for qualifying on Tuesday and main draw play on Thursday.
The Cincinnati Open started in 1899, and it is the oldest United States tennis tournament played in its original city. It has been a favorite over the years, and it is the final tune up before the US Open.
In 2025, for the first time, the men’s and women’s singles draws will consist of 96 players (up from 56). To accomodate the longer tournament with more players, enhancements have been made to the facilities to include more practice courts (indoor and outdoor) and an upgraded clubhouse.
For the big reveal, the Cincinnati Open invited elites of tennis to do the honors.
A star studded opening to the new Cincinnati Open. pic.twitter.com/O7n8iIg3GQ
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 3, 2025
Who Are These Tennis VIPs?
Steffi Graf, Sloane Stephens, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan: 5-time champions, Andre Agassi: 3-time champion, and Jannik Sinner: defending champion, are among the immediately recognizable faces on this picture.
Graf and Stephens never won the event. In Graf’s case, the tournament only hosted a WTA event in 1988 with none from 1974-1987 or from 1989-2003. Graf won the Golden Slam in 1988 so she was pretty busy elsewhere that year. Stephens has had big wins in Cincinnati especially in 2023 when she defeated defending champion Caroline Garcia.
We Love The Cincinnati Open, But We Are On Tennis Overload
The Western & Southern Open as the Cincinnati Open was historically called is a great event showcasing American hardcourt tennis leading right into the US Open. However, it is a bit overwhelming this year taking in all of the Cincinnati Open pre-tournament pageantry when we are in the throes of the Canadian Open. It would be one thing if the Canadian Open was ending today, and we were getting this Cincinnati Open media hype, but the Canadian Open has four more days.
How can I focus on one of my all-time favorite female tennis players, Steffi Graf, at an event like this when one of my current favorites, Amanda Anisimova, is playing an intriguing Round of 16 match against Elina Svitolina?
Zverev says he has not spoken to a single player who likes the two week Masters events, ‘I don’t even think fans like that… I understand tennis is a business, but I’m not sure that business plan is working very well right now’
“Do you think you’ll play more of a schedule of 15… pic.twitter.com/g9KGTlVuj9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 2, 2025
Alexander Zverev summed up the situation on a recent episode of the Nothing Major podcast. We are in tennis overload mode. In the meantime, we will send you back to your regularly scheduled programming at the Canadian Open.
