Western & Southern Open Aug. 13th – 21st

My love of adventure and new experiences took me on an hour long plane ride to Cincinnati, Ohio. Did you know us Midwesterner’s have the opportunity to checkout a Wimbledon- like experience nearby? The Western & Southern Open is a can’t miss event that brings together top tennis talent from around the world.

Lindner Family Tennis Center

This year the annual event takes place August 13th – 21st. The tournament is the second largest summer tennis event in the U.S. after the US Open. The Western & Southern Open (aka the Cincinnati Masters) started in 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the U.S. played in its original city.

Serena Williams 2022 Western & Southern Open

Venus Williams 2022 Western & Southern Open

The tournament takes place a little bit outside of Cincinnati Ohio in Mason Ohio at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. It’s an event of international grandeur and the worlds best athletes compete on the 17 courts. Some of the global talent competing this year are Venus and Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Nick Kyrgios to name a few. As far as player-fan interaction goes, this event is known as one of the more intimate environments. The tournament is significantly smaller than the US open and you can see the players up close.

Felix Auger Aliassime Western & Southern Open

Naomi Osaka 2022 Western & Southern Open

I will honestly admit I do not know much about tennis, but DO NOT let that stop you from attending. Watching the tennis matches was fun, BUT the event is more than just tennis. It’s about the style, the food, the drinks, the music, and MUCH more! Most attendees spend 6+ hours on site per visit.

Prime Cincinnati Crab Sliders

Chiataglance Western & Southern Open Experience

Tavi J.

I was invited to partake in an exclusive and unique experience as a guest of the tournament. We experienced a Kim Crawford wine tasting, trying out food vendors, and ofcourse watched our favorite players on the court. Go Serena!!

If you’re heading to the event from Chicago it’s either a 5 hour drive or an hour long plane ride. I went the plane route to save on time. If you fly into the Cincinnati airport it’s about a 50 minute car ride to the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

I got to Ohio a day early and decided to stay in downtown Cincinnati to explore a little before attending the event. If you choose to stay in the downtown area The Lytle Park Hotel is a great option. The boutique hotel is absolutely stunning and is surrounded by historic charm. It’s about a 50 minute drive to the tournament site. The rooms are spacious and the beds are super comfy. We were very well rested for the tournament the next day.

And it begins……

WTA 1000 Main Draw Winner Taylor Townsend

We started our tournament journey Sunday evening. This was our first time at the stadium and our first time attending a tennis match in general. Walking into Lindner Family Tennis Center was magical. You already felt an energetic vibe as people were walking to and from the courts or relaxing at one of the many food spots while listening to live music.

The first tennis match we attended was between Taylor Townsend and Peyton Stearns. Taylor pulled out the win and it was her first WTA 1000 main draw win since her baby Adyn was born. I loved how she graciously went around signing the young fan attendees tennis balls after the match. The little children’s eyes lit up with excitement!

Sunday evening experienced a lot of rain delays so we didn’t stay long. However, the weather the following day was perfect and our Cincy Tennis experience truly began.