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Western & Southern Open to Change Locations Western & Southern Open Heads to New York

Longtime Cincinnati tournament to come to New York

By Alyssa Lyons

EVERY AUGUST NAMES LIKE SERENA WILLIAMS, ROGER FEDERER, RAFAEL NADAL MAKE THIER WAY TO THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN OPEN IN CINCINNATI. 

THIS YEAR, THEY’LL SKIP THE QUEEN CITY AND HEAD STRAIGHT FOR THE BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER.

THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT WOULD MOVE THE TOURNAMENT TO BE THE LEAD-IN OF THE U.S. OPEN IN NEW YORK CITY.

BECAUSE OF COVID-19 THERE WILL BE NO FANS PRESENT IN THE STANDS-AND ATHLETES WILL FOLLOW STRICT GUIDELINES




-PLAYERS TO TRAVEL ALONE
-TEAMS ARE LIMITED TO 2 HOTEL ROOMS

-ALTERNATIVE TO RENT PRIVATE HOMES.

-FREQUENTLY TESTS FOR COVID-19.


ACCORDING TO FORMER TENNIS PLAYER, AND OPEN GO-ER, HANNAH STOWE, WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO THE OPEN BEYOND THE MATCH, IS THE LINDER FAMILY STADIUM ITSELF. 




WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SAID 2020 TICKET HOLDERS WILL BE GIVEN A FULL REFUND FOR THE TOURNAMENT.
IN CINCINNATI, ALYSSA LYONS, N-C-C NEWS.




CINCINNATI, OH- The last time the Western & Southern Open left its Cincinnati location was 1920. This year the tournament will journey to New York City. 

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced Wednesday that the Western & Southern Open will be the lead-in tournament to the U.S. Open at Billie Jean King Tennis Center. 

Last year, the Western & Southern Open engaged over 200,000 visitors and brought 218 tennis stars from over 47 countries, according to the Open’s Twitter release. Warren County, where the Linder Family Tennis Center is located, said the tournament brought in $70 million in 2019.

In a press conference Wednesday, USTA’s Vice President Dr. Brian Hainline said that both Opens will follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Those restrictions include:

  • No fans
  • Players are to travel alone
  • Team members of the athletes are limited to two hotel rooms, each housing two people per room maximum. 
  • Players can rent private housing. 
  • All staff and athletes will be frequently tested for COVID-19.

“In the midst of COVID-19 tennis is an ideal sport for physically distancing, being able to play the sport safely, to socialize safely,” said Hainline. 

The Western & Southern Open said that they would offer full refunds to those who had already purchased tickets in Cincinnati. The Open is expected to return to Cincinnati in 2021.

 

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