The Cincinnati Open has been a tumultuous event thus far, with every day throwing up a strange new occurrence.
This unpredictability began with the introduction of their new 12-day format, combining it with the Canadian Open in the name of efficiency.
Instead, it has arguably created more chaos, forcing a plethora of big-name stars to pull out of the events in Toronto and Montreal, and most who went far there to then withdraw from Cincinnati.
Adding to this, power outages, unprecedented weather and some really strange results, this Cincinnati Open has been one of the oddest in recent memory.
It must be frustrating for the organisers that their event has been questioned so much, given the £200m spent to renovate it for this year.
Cincinnati Open criticised for visibility issues
And the players have shown their appreciation for these huge changes, which have admittedly transformed the complex for the better.
It looks remarkable, and deservedly is receiving praise for the facilities.
However, whilst speaking on The Tennis Podcast, both David Law and Matt Roberts noted an issue that would only be known by those watching the event on TV.
The former began by noting: “It’s been an amazing renovation job, and it’s a cool facility.
“I do sometimes have some issues with the visibility of the ball on the centre court when it’s really gleaming sun in certain angles, because they’ve changed the colour code, haven’t they? You know, it’s always been a darker blue court with a green surround, the same as the US Open to get that US Open series going in, which I must admit, I preferred that. I like that idea of having an identity for a swing of American hard courts.
“I think it’s a shame, but they’ve obviously done a great job. The players love going there.
“The problem is it’s so hot at the moment. It looks like a miserable place to be spending time. And it’s out of their control. It’s just where it is.
Roberts then picked up where he left off, continuing: “It does affect the vibe of the matches. You know, when people can’t sit in those non-shaded seats. It just looks empty. It’s just a shame.
“I do think the brightness of that centre court has been a problem for a while. Like, I don’t think that’s to do with the colour change. I think it’s something to do with the position of the camera there on the centre court. They’ve moved about a lot in Cincinnati.
“It used to be really low in Cincinnati. Now it’s one of the higher ones, and yes, something’s wrong because, as you said, during the day session, it’s really hard to see the ball, but you go to other courts…”.
Some players have also suffered with the heat, with Sinner talking about the struggles of playing in Cincinnati this year. Alas, this is something they cannot control.
What has changed with the Cincinnati Open renovation?
Having spent over $260m to revolutionise the Cincinnati Open campus, it’s fair to say that it’s clear where the money went.
After all, this is an environment transformed, very much for the better despite the visibility issues.
They have added greenery, a new sunken Champions Court, greater seating for the Grandstand Court and a six-court indoor tennis facility too.
There is everything that a player and a fan could ever want here, made particularly important given how little there seems to be to do other than play tennis.
Bob Moran, the President of Beemok Sports and Entertainment, which is owned by the father of Emma Navarro, stated: “We are ushering in a new era at the Cincinnati Open, and the complete transformation of our campus will create an unparalleled experience for our fans and players.”
It’s fair to say that they’ve achieved this goal.
