Former Champs Gauff, Zverev; ’24 Finalist Pegula Amped for Cincinnati Open ‘Revamp’

By Richard Osborn

The 2025 Cincinnati Open will be unlike any other in the tournament’s storied 125-plus-year history.

The combined ATP Masters 1000/WTA 1000 event is in the midst of a $260 million transformation, after all — one that will include a new six-court indoor tennis facility, a 2,000-seat sunken Champions Court, a 56,000 square-foot player center, and more. Expanded site, expanded singles draw (from 56 to 96 players), expanded schedule (from nine to 14 days).

Not that Coco Gauff needed any added incentive to get up for the tournament. The American was a fan even before her sizzling summer of 2023, when she went back-to-back at the Cincinnati Open and US Open: Her first WTA 1000 title followed by her first Grand Slam crown.  

“That’s cool they’re getting a revamp,” said Gauff this month in Indian Wells. “It’s great for the fans and players to have a whole new revamp, especially leading into US Open.”

“I’m excited. It’s one of my favorite tournaments to play,” she continued. “I really do think that community loves tennis, and it’s great to play in front of a crowd of true tennis fans and maybe not so much casual. There’s nothing wrong with being a casual fan, but it’s a different energy when you’re playing in front of people who really know and love the game.”

Unlike Gauff, it took Alexander Zverev a few years to warm up to Cincinnati. Perhaps it was his futile record. Zverev was winless in his first SIX main-draw matches at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. But the German eventually found his footing in Ohio, where he won the title in 2021, and reached back-to-back semifinals in 2023 and 2024.

“I really like Cincinnati nowadays,” laughed Zverev, currently No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I found my happy place there in a way. I stay at the same house. My family usually comes, my girlfriend comes. It’s always a very familiar kind of situation for me now, which is very nice. I feel comfort in that. I figured that out a few years ago, and I kind of keep that routine.”

The sweeping, site-wide renovations only sweeten the pot.

“I’m excited to see the new facilities,” said Zverev. “I feel positive about Cincinnati and the changes that they’re doing.”

Jessica Pegula, a Cincinnati Open finalist last year (l. to Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 7-5), took one look at the architectural sketches and knew she was in for something special.  

“I remember when I played the final, I was like, ‘When are you guys starting?’ They’re, like, ‘Literally tomorrow. Right now. As soon as we can.’ I was shocked to hear that it was going to be ready for this year. It looked amazing. I think it’s going to be awesome.”

I think it’s going to be awesome.

Jessica Pegula, World No. 4 and ’24 Cincinnati Open finalist

Pegula’s run to the trophy match in Cincinnati was part of a summer she won’t soon forget. She came into the tournament on the heels of a successful title defense at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. She would become only the third American in the Open Era to kick off the North American hard-court swing by reaching back-to-back finals in Canada and Cincinnati, joining Hall of Famer Rosie Casals and 23-time major singles titlist Serena Williams. The 31-year-old then played her way into her first major singles final at the 2024 US Open, where she would again come up just short against Sabalenka.

“It already is a great event. I love playing Cincy. I love the Midwest feel to it,” Pegula said. “I think if they can kind of revamp all of that space and make it even better, it’s going to be an awesome stop. And now it’s a couple days longer. Adding more space for it being a joint event and a big event now will be great. I’m super excited to see how it looks. If it looks anything like the renderings, it’s going to be awesome.”

Get in on the action of the 2025 Cincinnati Open by registering for the single session pre-sale and receiving 24-hour early access to single session tickets.