Western & Southern Open Embraces Midwest After Moving To N.Y.

The Western & Southern Open began play over the weekend after moving the event from Mason, Ohio to N.Y., and the tournament is "trying to preserve at least some of the familiar by adding some Midwestern touches," according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. The Grandstand at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is housing "artwork linking two bridges designed by John Roebling: the Brooklyn Bridge and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, which spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington, Ky." The tournament is using the Grandstand as its "primary court," with "no plans to make use of the two largest venues on the grounds." A "rental truck full of equipment" was brought from the tournament's usual site. Western & Southern Open COO Katie Haas said, "We had to bring our umpires' chairs because we have LED signage attached to those, and all the nets with our logos because the U.S. Open doesn't utilize the same ones, and our players benches that are branded" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/22).