Fans watching the Cincinnati Open this week should not necessarily expect to see the best tennis in the world. The reason for this is the high speed of the courts, which causes difficulties for some players.
Speed of the courts causes discussions
There has been a trend in recent years where tennis courts have become slower in general. This has been particularly noticeable at Wimbledon. The question of whether there is enough difference between surfaces and tournaments is a topic of constant debate, but Cincinnati does not seem to be at the top of the list in this debate.
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The Masters and WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati offers some of the fastest tennis courts of the year. This speed has already posed challenges for some players. One player who has adapted particularly well to the fast conditions this year is British number one and world number 28 Jack Draper. He has already claimed two three-set victories.
In the first round, Draper defeated Jaume Munar and then caused an upset by knocking out ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to advance to the round of 16. “The Cincinnati courts are the fastest I’ve ever played on,” said Draper, who is making his debut at the tournament. “I won the match because I played well and was determined to win. I showed my strength in the decisive moments.”
Draper further noted: “All players are used to playing on slow courts. When you serve, you see the ball above you. This often leads to mistakes that are normally rare. It may not be the best tennis in the world, but it’s all about taking the chances.”
Experienced players confirm the speed of the courts
Although Draper is a newcomer to the tournament, experienced players have also highlighted the speed of the Cincinnati courts. Alexander Zverev, who won the title in 2021, is among the favorites for this year’s event. The world number four made short work of his second-round match against Karen Khachanov, defeating the Russian 6-3, 6-2. He then beat Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarterfinals.
“It’s probably one of the fastest courts we’re playing on this year,” commented third-seeded Zverev. “The conditions here are very fast. The ball flies through the air very quickly and it’s sometimes difficult to control it. You really need time to get used to it.”
The speed of the Cincinnati courts could mean that all players will have to spend a lot of time on the courts at Flushing Meadows to prepare for the US Open. The courts in New York are considered to be slower, so they are expected to present a different challenge to those in Cincinnati.
