MASON — Yearly, the perfect skilled tennis gamers on the earth flock to the higher Cincinnati space to compete for the Cincinnati Open’s Rookwood Cup. Within the course of, a lot of them get a style of the Southwestern Ohio expertise.
Russian U.S. Open champion Danil Medvedev turned a diehard Reds fan throughout his time in Cincinnati. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, a finalist at this yr’s French Open, did the sword pull at Aug. 11’s FC Cincinnati sport at TQL Stadium. Coco Gauff served Graeter’s Ice Cream to followers final yr, and this yr praised the town’s small-town nature.
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“Cincinnati’s a much bigger metropolis, however it nonetheless has a hometown form of really feel whenever you go, particularly the place we at the moment are in Mason,” Gauff stated in her pre-tournament press convention. “The place there does not look like there’s loads occurring, however when you dig a little bit bit, there’s stuff occurring.”
A handful of athletes affiliate themselves with staples of Cincinnati tradition each August. However past the photograph ops, how are tennis gamers experiencing the town, and the place do they go? The Enquirer was capable of finding out within the opening days of the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
Italian restaurant capitalizes on Cincinnati Open
Meals stops are a preferred staple amongst tennis gamers on the Open, with locals having a number of locations in thoughts for different gamers on tour. Peyton Stearns, a Cincinnati native, has prompt locations like Tony’s Steakhouse and Two Cities Pizza for her rivals. Caty McNally, who’s from Madeira, says that different WTA gamers have requested her for espresso store suggestions.
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One Montgomery and Hyde Park-based Italian restaurant, Forno Osteria & Bar, had tennis gamers eating in day by day throughout final yr’s match, based on restaurant director of operations Carley Coleman. Amongst the gamers who made appearances final yr, Coleman says, had been 2025 Cincinnati Open finalists Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Jasmine Paolini. This yr to date, Filipina star Alex Eala is amongst the gamers who confirmed as much as eat.
However the camaraderie between Forno and tennis gamers goes simply past meals. In response to Coleman, many tennis gamers have a pleasant relationship with Forno proprietor Cristian Piesoto, who has gone out of his method to introduce himself and provides his telephone quantity to gamers. Italian gamers would then particularly begin looking for Forno out, and even textual content Piesoto that his restaurant’s meals “tastes similar to house.”
Coleman additionally says that two gamers gave Forno servers tickets to their matches. She praised the athletes for not performing “entitled” regardless of a lot of them being well-known, reserving reservations properly forward of time and being complimentary of restaurant service.
“For us Cincinnatians, it is only a sense of satisfaction,” stated Coleman of the Cincinnati Open’s presence at Forno. She says the restaurant’s group has been speaking concerning the match since as early as mid-July. “Have a look at all these actually gifted folks and simply actually total genuinely great human beings (supporting us), and the the eye, hype and pleasure that it brings to the group.”
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The fixed presence {of professional} athletes at Forno hasn’t confirmed to be an issue. Coleman says that Forno’s “elevated service” has created a tradition the place different visitors resort to whispering concerning the tennis gamers beside them, slightly than going as much as them for images or autographs.
Nevertheless, longtime Forno buyer and Italian Peggy Lewin does have one request: to satisfy Paolini and prepare a pizza evening for her. Lewin, a superfan of the Italian WTA star, deliberate with Coleman for months on prepare this occasion. She’ll have to attend one other yr for to make it occur, although, as Paolini withdrew from this yr’s Cincinnati Open with an harm.
“It is a sense of satisfaction to attempt to get her to return and have pizza and benefit from the group,” Lewin stated. “She’s only a standout, and we simply wish to give again as a result of we love watching her pay tennis.”
Different methods tennis gamers are experiencing Cincinnati
Eating places should not the one Cincinnati companies experiencing athlete visitors in the course of the Cincinnati Open. Gauff proved that when she stayed proper subsequent to Nice American Ball Park throughout final yr’s match, and attended a good at The Banks throughout an off day.
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“There was a little bit truthful there occurring final yr, and I went to that, and that was very nice,” Gauff stated of The Banks. “And so they have mini golf there, so I like that space.”
In the meantime, newly-minted Nationwide Financial institution Open champion Ben Shelton stated his favourite place within the Cincinnati space was close by amusement park King’s Island, which he grew up visiting.
A Cincinnati Open match organizer informed The Enquirer that Cadillac has supplied gamers with private automobiles for the competitors, one thing that’s not at all times the norm at each ATP or WTA occasion. However even with this perk, many gamers are homebodies, preferring to remain on the tennis middle and their very own lodging slightly than exploring the realm.
A few of these gamers embrace WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and ATP No. 9 Taylor Fritz. Sabalenka, who’s staying in a rental home slightly than a lodge for the primary time in Cincinnati this yr, says she appreciates surrounding the place she lives. Defending champion Iga Świątek enjoys visiting a buddy’s home within the space, which has a pool.
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The Lindner Household Tennis Middle, which underwent a $260 million renovation earlier than the 2025 Cincinnati Open, actually contributes to gamers’ Cincinnati expertise. A number of companies profit from that, together with Playa Bowls, which remodeled 13,000 bowls from serving followers and catering to gamers final yr.
“The ugrades to the location have been superb,” Fritz stated.
Cincinnati is simply one other two-week cease on the yearlong, worldwide tour of WTA and ATP gamers. However for these two weeks, they expertise a little bit of what it is prefer to stay as a mean Cincinnati native.
This text initially appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Italian restaurant a high spot for tennis stars throughout Cincinnati Open
