Cincinnati Open 2026, where to watch and live stream

The Cincinnati Open runs in Cincinnati, United States from 13–23 Aug, played on medium-paced hard court. Bounces and pace sit between clay and grass, which rewards all-court players who can defend, attack and serve in roughly equal measure. It is a Masters 1000 / WTA 1000, the tier directly below the Slams and mandatory for the world top thirty outside of injury. The singles champion takes 1,000 ranking points, plus a prize pool that sits second only to the Slams.

First held in 1899, played at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Play starts in 98 days, on Thursday 13 August, with the main draw running through to Sunday 23 August.

Jannik Sinner defends the men's title · Iga Świątek defends the women's title.

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The Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio plays as the fastest hard-court Masters of the year. The courts use the same Laykold cushioning as Flushing Meadows but are paced up several percent, and the August humidity over the Ohio basin adds a swirling, unpredictable wind on the outside courts that plays havoc with ball tosses. Day-session matches in 35C and ninety per cent humidity are the toughest physical conditions on the hard-court swing, and players regularly call the trainer for cramping issues that simply do not show up at Indian Wells or Toronto.

The combined men’s and women’s 1000 the week after Toronto and the week before the US Open makes Cincinnati a critical read on who is moving well heading into the slam. Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 men’s title in three sets over Sinner. The surface punishes any player who relies on heavy topspin alone, and rewards the flatter striker with a bigger first serve. Best-of-three throughout, week-long tournament with no off-day, and a packed schedule of singles and doubles keeps the energy higher than at any other 1000 outside New York itself.