Saturday, April 18, 2026

Charlotte Loses Western & Southern Open Bid Despite $400M Investment

  • Beemok Capital will invest $260 million into improvements for Lindner Family Tennis Center, which has hosted the Open since 1979.
  • Charlotte, North Carolina, was in the running to take the tournament after it approved the construction of a $400 million tennis complex.
Coco Gauff holds up the Rookwood Cup after the victory over Karolina Muchova during the women’s singles final of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati area will keep its 1000-level ATP and WTA tournaments — much to the dismay of those in Charlotte.

On Tuesday, Beemok Capital announced that it is keeping the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio — just outside Cincinnati — for another 25 years. 

As part of the commitment to stay, Beemok will invest $260 million into improvements for Lindner Family Tennis Center, which has hosted the Open since 1979, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Additionally, the men’s and women’s tournaments will expand to two weeks starting in 2025, as announced in a video posted to social media starring reigning tournament champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff. The 2023 edition of the tournament brought in over 200,000 fans, according to the video.

“The passion and commitment of this community to keep the tournament here was an undeniable factor in our decision to stay,” Beemok founder Benjamin Navarro said in a statement. “The city of Mason, Warren County, the state of Ohio and multiple corporate entities demonstrated their unwavering support for the tennis tournament.”

That Ohio was able to retain the tournament was something of an upset: Charlotte, North Carolina, was in the running to take the Western & Southern after it approved the construction of a $400 million tennis complex to host professional tennis. Beemok was set to provide $200 million of that funding.

Djokovic and Gauff will presumably defend their titles in 2024 from August 11 through 19.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

French Open Will Allow Wearables Like Whoop on ‘Trial Basis’

The trial will extend to the US Open and Wimbledon.

Carlos Alcaraz Cracks Top 4 in Career Earnings Despite Loss

Jannik Sinner reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking. 
exclusive

Typti U.S. Open Will Launch With $100K in Prize Money

The event is set for next month at a pickleball club in California.
Ben Shelton keeps his eyes on the ball during his second-round match against Reilly Opelka at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026.

College Tennis In NIL ‘Crisis’: Incoming USTA CEO Craig Tiley

Multiple universities have dropped their Division I programs in recent years.

Featured Today

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) heads for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Bills overcame a halftime deficit to win 39-34.

Joe Flacco Sounds Alarm on 18-Game Schedule

The veteran QB warns such expansion could hurt the playoffs.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 4, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.
April 17, 2026

LIV Golf CEO: League Looking for New Investors

Scott O’Neil admitted LIV will need to raise money moving forward.
Apr 15, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) clears the puck from the goal with Dallas Stars left wing Adam Erne (73) in pursuit in the third period at KeyBank Center.
April 17, 2026

New-Look NHL Playoffs Set As League Rides Attendance Wave

This year’s playoff field includes several upstarts and fresh storylines.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
April 16, 2026

Grand Slam Track’s Contentious Bankruptcy Is Over. Now What?

With bankruptcy over, Grand Slam is cleared to try a comeback.
Dec 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
April 16, 2026

NBA Bends 65-Game Awards Rule for Dončić, Cunningham

Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, lost his appeal.
April 16, 2026

LIV Golf’s Future: Three Big Questions If Saudi Funding Dries Up

LIV players could be seeking a return to the PGA Tour.
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) and guard Darius Garland (10) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome.
exclusive
April 16, 2026

NBA Is in Talks With Kalshi and Polymarket

Discussions ramped up after the CFTC began engaging with leagues, sources say.