The Cincinnati Open has always been a highlight of the summer tennis calendar, but in 2025, it’s bigger and bolder than ever. With the main draw kicking off on August 7 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, fans were treated to a marathon of matches—27 in total—across both ATP and WTA tours. This year’s event, now a two-week spectacle with an expanded 96-player field, is already living up to its reputation for drama, surprises, and star power.
One of the most anticipated moments of the opening day was the return of Venus Williams to Center Court. At 45 years old and boasting seven Grand Slam titles, Williams’ presence always draws a crowd. Facing Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Venus battled hard but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-4. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked World No. 51, played with poise and power, sending the tennis legend out of the tournament in front of a packed house. It was a bittersweet sight for longtime fans, but a testament to the depth of talent in the women’s game today.
Meanwhile, local favorite Peyton Stearns gave Cincinnati something to cheer about. The Mason native and former University of Texas national champion notched her first-ever main draw victory at her hometown tournament, defeating Yafan Wang 6-4, 6-3. Stearns, who had previously struggled to get over the hump in Mason, looked composed and confident under the lights. The crowd’s energy was palpable, and Stearns didn’t disappoint. Her breakthrough win could be the start of a memorable run on home soil.
The action was relentless all day, with players braving not only their opponents but also a couple of rain delays that threatened to disrupt the rhythm. Tomas Martin Etcheverry, a 26-year-old from Argentina, had to regroup after an hour-long pause but managed to outlast Juncheng Shang 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4. Shang, returning from a six-month injury layoff, fought valiantly but was visibly hampered after a fall in the third set. Etcheverry moves on to face No. 23 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in what promises to be a compelling second-round encounter.
On the men’s side, Sebastian Baez of Argentina continued his strong form, dispatching David Goffin 6-1, 6-3. Baez, World No. 45, will next take on Gabriel Diallo, the No. 30 seed and a former University of Kentucky standout. Goffin, a Cincinnati finalist in 2019 and semifinalist in 2018, couldn’t find his best tennis against the relentless Argentine. Baez’s win marks his second consecutive victory at the Cincinnati Open—a sign that he’s getting comfortable on these hard courts.
Other notable first-round results included France’s Corentin Moutet grabbing his first main draw win in Mason after three previous attempts. Moutet, ranked World No. 46, overcame Mackenzie McDonald 7-5, 6-3 and will next face the rising American Alex Michelsen. Fabian Marozsan of Hungary, who made a splash here last year by reaching the round of 16, survived a three-set battle against Colton Smith, eventually prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
On the women’s side, 19-year-old Clervie Ngounoue, who battled through qualifying, showed her grit by defeating Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. Ngounoue advances to face No. 19 seed Elise Mertens, a stern test for the young American. Tatjana Maria, at 37, proved age is just a number, beating Whitney Osuigwe 6-2, 6-3 for her second career win in Cincinnati and first since 2018. Maria will meet Marta Kostyuk, the No. 25 seed, in the next round.
Elsewhere, Olga Danilovic of Serbia made a statement in her Cincinnati debut, defeating Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5. Danilovic’s reward? A second-round showdown with 30th seed Emma Raducanu, who is making headlines for reasons beyond her play. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, recently hired Francisco Roig—Rafael Nadal’s longtime coach—to lead her team through the end of 2025. After several coaching changes, Raducanu is optimistic about the new partnership, saying, “First impressions are it’s going really well. We did a few days after Wimbledon together and I was really happy with how it went. I’m just so excited to have him on board, so much experience. I’m really looking forward to continuing.”
Roig, who helped guide Nadal to 22 Grand Slam titles and recently worked with Matteo Berrettini, brings a wealth of experience in high-pressure situations. Raducanu believes his expertise is exactly what she needs to improve against the top players, noting, “I see that when I play the really top players where I can’t run and scrap, wait on them to miss. I think that’s where I need to improve. And yeah, I’m hoping he can help me with that.” Their partnership officially began in Cincinnati, with Raducanu seeded 30th and receiving a first-round bye. The upcoming clash with Danilovic will be their first meeting on the WTA Tour, and the winner will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or Marketa Vondrousova in the third round.
The men’s draw saw more drama as Adrian Mannarino, a seasoned Frenchman, breezed past Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-2 after a rain delay. Mannarino, a qualifier this year, is looking to build on his quarterfinal run from 2023. Eva Lys, making her Cincinnati Open debut, outlasted Bernarda Pera in a three-set thriller, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, and will now test her mettle against No. 6 seed Madison Keys, a former champion here in 2019.
Qualifiers made their mark across both tours. Aoi Ito, just 21, fought past Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 7-6(6) to secure a spot in the Round of 64. Terence Atmane and Daniel Elahi Galan also advanced, continuing the trend of qualifiers making deep runs in Mason. On the ATP side, Coleman Wong rolled over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in just 54 minutes, extending his winning streak in Cincinnati to three straight matches and setting up a clash with World No. 23 Ugo Humbert.
Marketa Vondrousova, after a slow start, stormed back to defeat Jaqueline Cristian and set up a blockbuster second-round match with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The two have split their previous eight meetings, adding a layer of intrigue to their upcoming battle. Other winners included Roman Safiullin, Zizou Bergs, Anastasia Potapova, Benjamin Bonzi, Roberto Carballes Baena, Pedro Martinez, Sorana Cirstea, Joao Fonseca, Arthur Rinderknech, and Maya Joint, who became the first player to book a spot in the Round of 64.
With the ATP Cincinnati Open marking its 57th edition in the Open Era, the tournament’s legacy continues to grow. The Tennis Channel remains the exclusive broadcaster, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action. Tickets for the full series and multi-day packages are already sold out, underscoring the event’s enduring popularity.
As the first round wraps and the field narrows, all eyes are on the next wave of matches. With local heroes thriving, legends bowing out, and new coaching partnerships taking shape, the Cincinnati Open is off to a thrilling start. The storylines are rich, the competition fierce, and with the US Open looming, every match in Mason matters just a little bit more.
