What's new at the Cincinnati Open? More courts, more days, more plants and ... Jeff Ruby's

The tournament, formerly known as the Western & Southern Open, returns to Mason from Aug. 5-18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, where it has been held since 1979. The venue underwent major upgrades and renovations in 2024 as part of its $260 million investment, with the notable difference being the size of the campus.

At more than 40 acres, the tennis center is now twice as large as it was in 2024.

This year's improvements are in addition to the projects taken on before the 2024 tournament, which included replacing every seat within P&G Center Court, adding four new practice courts, debuting the Grandstand Club and refurbishing stadium suites and hospitality areas.

Here's what's new to the event this year.

Expanded tournament dates

The Cincinnati Open is slated to take place Aug. 5-18, a full two weeks of tennis. In 2024, the tournament lasted nine days. Here are the other expansions coming to the Cincinnati Open.

• 24 ticketed sessions (16 in 2024).
• 324 matches (209 in 2024).
• 96-player singles fields (56 in 2024).
• 31 outdoor tennis courts (21 in 2024 and 17 in 2023).

3 new kitchens and 4 all-new restaurants

The Cincinnati Open added four new restaurants to its extensive dining options, including Jeff Ruby's Catering, Lobsta Bakes of Maine, Bibibop and Lucious Q.

Three permanent kitchens were also added to the facility to service players and hospitality dining. The Commons, a landscaped, shaded dining area with 1,400 seats, was added next to 13 restaurant storefronts.

A Garden Suites and Club area was also added. The ultra-premium hospitality space with "hand-selected finishes" throughout the indoor and outdoor lounges, boasts world-class amenities and menus curated by celebrity chef Jet Tila.

New pickleball courts, indoor courts added to facility

With the uptick in pickleball, the Lindner Family Tennis Center added six new pickleball courts and two padel courts. It also added a six-court indoor facility. The tennis center now features 31 outdoor tennis courts, up from 17 in 2023, plus added seating around the practice courts.

Tennis courts receive a full makeover

Tennis courts received a fresh paint job ahead of the 2025 Cincinnati Open. The courts were upgraded with Har-Tru surfaces and a new, two-tone blue look.

The Champions Court, a brand-new 2,300-seat sunken stadium, was added just inside the new south entrance. The stadium is the fourth-largest of the venue's five permanent stadiums. That's one of 10 new courts set to be added to the site to help accommodate the expansion to 96 players in the ATP and WTA singles field.

Volunteers clear water off the court as play was suspended due to rain in 2024.

Lindner Family Tennis Center now has a 'park-like feel'

The Lindner Family Tennis Center grounds were reimagined to create a "park-like feel" with an "emphasis on florals and shade," according to a press release from the Cincinnati Open. All of the facility's walkways are now concrete, replacing the old asphalt with many lawn areas (both natural and synthetic) around the venue.

• 42,670 locally grown annuals, which take up 43,650 square feet of greenhouse space and equate to 3.3 acres.
• 13,712 perennials and grasses.
• 1,293 deciduous and evergreen trees.
• 950 shrubs.
• 6.5 acres of sod.

Permanent shade structure added to the facility's pavilion

A 16,000-square-foot permanent, shaded fan plaza on the north side of campus was added, which will serve as a gathering spot for fans.

Greenspaces, dubbed the Kroger Fan Zone and Preasco Kids Zone, were added to welcome fans for various activities throughout the tournament.

Performance center underwent major renovation

Coco Gauff won the tournament in 2023.

The bottom three floors of the Cincinnati Open's player center were renovated to expand lockerooms across two levels and provide a new, larger fitness center. There is also a Tennis Channel broadcast studio where fans will be able to view player interviews.

Here's an overview of the athletes' amenities.

• 480 lockers (332 for players, 148 for coaches).
• 42 training tables.
• Four gyms (two indoor, two outdoor) equipped with 24 bikes, 10 treadmills, four ellipticals, two row machines, four squat racks, two Smith Machines and two leg presses.
• Six cold plunges.

What's coming to the Cincinnati Open in 2026?

The Lindner Family Tennis Center constructed a 56,000-square-foot building, dubbed The Clubhouse, that will house player amenities during the Cincinnati Open, such as a restaurant and lounge. However, starting in 2026, the facility will be open year-round for public use and additional events outside of the tournament weeks.

Aside from the building's dining options, guests will be able to access The Clubhouse's function rooms and pro shops for golf and racquet sports. The venue and tournament administration offices will also be housed there.

The facility's indoor tennis center, a 53,000-square-foot building with six courts, will be used for various tournament operations during the Cincinnati Open before transitioning to a public use facility starting in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What's new at the Cincinnati Open? More courts, more days, more plants and ... Jeff Ruby's