The Cincinnati Open closed its 127th edition Sunday, Aug. 23, with 300,288 fans having passed through the gates at Mason's Lindner Family Tennis Center, the first time the tournament has topped 300,000 in attendance and a jump of nearly 15,000 over the previous record of 285,571 set in 2025.

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young estimated the 16-day event generated roughly $200 million in regional economic impact.

"They're not just coming for a day to buy a hot dog," Young told WLWT. "They're staying here in our hotels, they're shopping at our stores, and they're eating three meals a day here."

Ticket buyers came from all 50 states and 62 countries, and 57% traveled from outside the Cincinnati area, according to tournament officials. The biggest single-day crowd, 30,479, packed the campus Saturday, Aug. 15. Records also fell for day-session attendance (17,441 on Aug. 15) and night-session attendance (13,533 on Thursday, Aug. 13).

Ben Baumeister, the Cincinnati Open's senior director of event strategy, said fans spent an average of about seven hours on site each day. Tournament Director Bob Moran credited new programming, including Community Weekend, Finals Weekend and the Kroger Indoor Fan Zone, with driving the record turnout.

The crowds came despite heavy rain and high-profile withdrawals, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Historic finals

The men's singles final on Aug. 23 made history before a ball was struck. Arthur Fils, 22, of France and American Frances Tiafoe became the first two Black players to meet in an ATP Masters 1000 final since the series began in 1990, according to WLWT.

Fils won 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, becoming the first Frenchman to claim the Cincinnati title since Guy Forget in 1991. He entered as the No. 21 seed and, according to Tennis Majors, is projected to rise to a career-high No. 11 in the world rankings. At 22, he is the youngest French Masters 1000 champion in the series' history.

Coco Gauff won the women's title, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the first all-American Cincinnati Open women's final since 1970. It was Gauff's second championship in Mason; she also won here in 2023 before capturing the U.S. Open weeks later.

$260 million investment paying off

The record attendance validates a $260 million transformation of the Lindner Family Tennis Center, as we reported Aug. 22. Beemok Capital funded 51% of the project, with Ohio and Warren County each committing $50 million and Mason contributing $30 million. The deal kept the tournament in Mason after its owner considered a potential move to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The tournament was named ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year following the renovation.

Officials said an additional parking lot purchased across the street added space for roughly 1,000 more vehicles in 2026, and parking will be a major focus as the event grows. Leaders also plan to expand the facility's use year-round, including tennis and pickleball events and a college basketball doubleheader featuring Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier and Dayton.

The tournament returns to Mason Aug. 10–22, 2027. No ticket on-sale date has been announced.