Western & Southern Open

A handful of world-class tennis players who competed in the Western & Southern Open last week made an extra stop at a nearby cryotherapy spa, Arctic Blast Cryo. Some swear by the shocking cold temperatures, ranging from -190 °F to -270 °F, as a way to repair damage down to the cellular level.

With the Western & Southern Open in full swing, the Mason tournament says it is seeing record crowds. Monday broke a record, and officials are looking for equally big crowds Tuesday night with Roger Federer and Serena Williams taking Center Court.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is testing new technology that may be used at the Western and Southern Open next year. It's an iPad loaded with real-time data (from the chair umpire and Hawk-Eye) that coaches may take with them during on-court coaching sessions.

While the technology may seem basic to some, tennis is traditional and slow to change. The men's circuit doesn't allow on-court visits by coaches, so it is not part of this technology roll-out.

The Western & Southern Open is the nation's oldest professional tennis tournament played in its city of origin. And this month fans will once again be able to see some of the greatest players in tennis compete.

Slugging it out on a court that is way hotter than the actual air temperature is a set-up for heat related illness according to Dr. Brian Grawe, a UC Health sports medicine surgeon, who was the doctor for tennis players at the Western & Southern Open. Right now there are a couple of common ways for them to cool down including waiting for ball boys and girls to bring wet towels.

  Sporting events such as the Western & Southern Tennis Tournament, the Flying Pig Marathon, and the NCAA Hockey Regionals are not only big draws for participants and fans, they are also powerful economic generators for the region, bringing millions of dollars into Greater Cincinnati each year.

It’s fast approaching, and now is the time to make your plans. The 2013 Western & Southern Open runs from August 10-18 at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason. Will Sikes, spokesman for the tournament, is in The Front Row with Betsy Ross to talk about this year’s event.