Background for the move: "Beemok Capital" bought the tournament last year for around 250 million US dollars and wants to build a 400 million tennis complex. The target is the Charlotte's River District, 40 places are to be created. Several US media report on this, including the largest US tennis site tennis.com with reference to the Business Courier .

The tournament in Cincinnati has a long tradition, describing itself as the nation's oldest professional tennis tournament to be played in the place where it was first held. In 2024 the 125th edition would take place. Maybe then for the penultimate time in Cincy - even if the Lindner Family Tennis Center is not yet out of the race for an extension, as they say.

Decision already this summer?

"Since selling the tournament last year, we have expressed our interest in the Western & Southern Open remaining in Cincinnati, while recognizing that the new owner would be evaluating several options," said David Nevers , vice president of public relations and operations Corporate Communications of Western and Southern Financial Group. "Until a decision is made, we will continue to work with the Beemok team to find a solution to expand and improve the tournament, realize its full potential, and preserve it in its 124-year location."

"Our process in other cities is following the same path we have taken in the Cincinnati area to both showcase the benefits of the tournament to the local community and to assess the opportunities and constraints of the region," Beemok Capital said in a statement. "We have had productive discussions with state and local officials in the Mason area and have made significant efforts to develop a potential master plan for expanding the event at its current location. We have great respect for the City of Mason and look forward to doing so We are planning to host the tournament here in August and for years to come. We expect to make a decision on the long-term venue after the tournament concludes this summer."