“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,” said the CEO of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Cincinnati Open, Bob Maron, last year. The ATP/WTA 1000 tournament has witnessed a massive $260 million overhaul in one year, to provide the best-possible tennis experience to fans and players alike. And when it comes to participants, some of the biggest names in the world of tennis are set to step on the court and unleash the fire from their rackets. Seven-time slam queen Venus Williams, who recently returned to the professional circuit, is also among them.

Williams made her comeback last month at the Citi Open after more than a year. In her maiden encounter, she bested compatriot Peyton Stearns. Unfortunately, her campaign was short-lived after a second-round loss to Magdalena Frech. But this week, she is hyped to make an appearance at the Cincinnati Open after a long time.

Speaking during a pre-event press conference, Williams let out her true and honest emotions on her Cincinnati return. “This event has always been so exciting. The fans travel from all over the US to come here. You can just see them coming. When you’re in the airport, you see them all coming and that part has been very exciting. There are very few chances to play in the states now, as an American, so I personally cherish any opportunity to play at home.” Expressing her views on the huge infrastructural transformation, the 45-year-old added, “I haven’t been here in a while, so it was an amazing surprise to see the site redeveloped and also in such a short time.” Reiterating her excitement for the Masters 1000 event, Williams concluded, “I think this is a great representation of what tennis should be, that we should always be progressing forward and super happy to perform here. It’s like tennis paradise.”

Speaking of the overhaul itself, the Lindner Family Tennis Center saw its campus size double to 40 acres. The majority of the transformation was carried out in 328 days, with the work starting the morning after Jannik Sinner walked away with the 2024 Cincinnati Open Trophy. ” As soon as finals ended, the following morning, we had crews on site to remove not only what the tournament setup was, but all of our furniture, all of our equipment. We had five days to take it off the site, and there were contractors who took over to start construction,” Chief Operating Officer Jansen Dell said, as reported by ATP Tour’s website on August 4.

When players enter the LFT Center this week, they will notice something new. Now, there’s a “state-of-the-art 56,000-square foot building called The Clubhouse, a de facto giant players’ retreat.”

The Performance Center has gone through massive changes as well. The bottom three floors of this building have received renovation. The locker rooms now span across two levels, instead of only the bottom floor. Players are also expected to be delighted with their new contemporary homes, where they’ll find cold plunges, physio tables, and more. Most importantly, the number of courts has been increased as well. Compared to 17 in 2023, now there are 31 outdoor courts. Not to mention the availability of 10 practice courts.

With so much getting added, why won’t Venus Williams be excited for her return in Cincinnati? All eyes will be on her as the American icon gets set for a warm welcome.

Venus Williams will look to improve record in Cincinnati

For the uninitiated, Venus Williams‘ last appearance at the Cincinnati Open came two years ago. During the 2023 edition, she couldn’t get very far, though. In the R32, China’s Qinwen Zheng beat her in a thrilling three-setter (1-6, 6-2, 6-1).

However, Williams has been a Cincinnati veteran thanks to her multiple campaigns at this WTA 1000 event. She made her debut sixteen years ago, in the 2009 edition. However, she lost in R16 against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta. But the 7-time slam queen’s second Cincinnati campaign was quite memorable. Why so?

She succeeded in entering the semis of the tournament for the first time. Unfortunately, China’s Li Na put a full stop on her journey. She bested Williams in the last four battle with a score line of 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. After this edition, it took Williams seven years to deliver her second-best Cincinnati campaign.

In 2019, she managed to reach the quarterfinals. But just when she looked set for a second semifinal appearance, compatriot Madison Keys ousted her in straight sets. She wasn’t able to qualify for the last eight in any of her remaining campaigns since then. This week, when she steps on the court, the 45-year-old tennis star will look to better her past record even though she maintains she is not back to prove anything.

She’s set to kick off her campaign against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Thursday. Do you think she can impress at the 2025 Cincinnati Open? Let us know in the comments below.