Celebrating community, competition and connection at the 2026 Cincinnati Open

Every summer, the Cincinnati Open brings some of the best professional tennis players to Ohio—and as exciting as the tournament is, it's more than that. Throughout the week, tennis enthusiasts, volunteers, coaches and players gathered at USTA events to learn and compete.

Developing the next generation

Our competitive tennis staff organized a Player Development Camp at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Some of the section's top 14-and-under junior players were led by high-performance coaches Asher Hirsch, Brian Schubert, Jason Winegar, Maciek Jozwiak and Vadym Kalyuzhnyy. They participated in drills and team matches before exploring the grounds and watching the pros play. For these young players, the experience offered a firsthand look at what it takes to reach the highest levels of the sport.

Growing the game through coaching and community

With more than 25 million Americans playing tennis, demand for coaches has grown. USTA is invested in the people who help tennis thrive—our coaches. In an effort to expand educational opportunities and build new pathways for women coaches, the section hosted a Women's Coaching Summit. Each of the 13 districts nominated coaches to attend and network with industry leaders.

That same week, nearly 20 Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) from across the Midwest gathered for the 2026 CTA Summit at the Great Wolf Lodge. Tennis advocates shared successes and challenges while exploring ways to strengthen local partnerships and increase participation to build sustainable tennis programs.

Celebrating adapted tennis

Adapted tennis thrived during Community Weekend, showcasing competitive pathways and opportunities for athletes of all abilities. The weekend included a special first: a para standing tennis tournament where athletes could earn international ranking points through the International Para-Standing Tennis Association, along with a USTA Level 3 wheelchair tennis tournament featuring 40 athletes from across the country.

Wheelchair tennis is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Cincinnati Open hosted a demonstration of the sport, a try-it clinic and a panel featuring Paralympian Dana Mathewson, collegiate player Chris Kelley and local wheelchair tennis star Zack Sikora, who was recently recognized by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine.