When the stars of the ATP Tour arrive at tournaments, their focus is usually on tennis. But at the Cincinnati Open, there has been more buzz surrounding the $260 million transformation of the Lindner Family Tennis Center than the typical forehands and backhands.
“It’s amazing. I was talking with all the players and it’s actually very strange for us to come to a venue where everything was new,” said Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 player in the ATP rankings. “It’s amazing what they did in one year. Everything has improved so, so much, but mostly the space we have for us players.”
Stunning New Player Amenities at the Cincinnati Open
The overhaul has wowed the locker room. The newly transformed venue now features a state-of-the-art player building, which includes modern dining spaces, lounges, and recreational areas. “There are huge things inside and also outdoors. Indoors, the dining area is much, much bigger, and when you come from the transportation, it’s like a hotel. It’s incredible,” Sinner continued. “I feel very happy and honoured to have this kind of revolution because it’s something great for us and our sport.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed at this year’s event, also praised the improvements. “To be honest, it’s impressive. The space that we have right now for women and ourselves, I think it’s great. I felt like I’m new, like it was my first year. I think it’s what we needed, and we’re feeling great right now with the new everything.”
Players Share Their Excitement About the Transformation
The 2019 Cincinnati Open champion, Daniil Medvedev, added, “Whenever any tournament makes a big improvement for players — for fans also, but I can only talk as a player — it’s always a benefit. It’s great that they try to do better and it’s a great tournament. I’ve always loved it and now it’s even better, so it’s great to see.”
Andrey Rublev, a finalist at the 2021 Cincinnati Open, agreed. “Cincinnati showed really huge improvement in one year. But to be fair, for me, Cincinnati always had good conditions. Even last year, with everything in terms of space, lockers, activities, lounges, I felt it was on a good level.”
Daniel Elahi Galan, who is competing in his third ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, shared his satisfaction. “I hope every tournament goes this far to make changes, to improve everything, to make us feel very comfortable. Super good,” Galan said. He also highlighted the addition of more practice courts. “There are enough courts that we don’t have to share… The food, I’m vegetarian and it’s been very good actually, which is not normal at every tournament.”
French doubles player Sadio Doumbia compared the player facilities to Disneyland. “For me, this is like Disneyland for tennis players,” he said. “You have everything you want. The food is very good, the gym is perfect, and it’s beautiful. We just arrived today and I’m having a blast. My coach is so excited, I’m so excited. It feels like Disneyland for me.”
The $260 million transformation has elevated the Cincinnati Open to new heights, making it a truly special tournament for players and fans alike. The upgraded Lindner Family Tennis Center now sets the gold standard for tennis tournaments around the world.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram