'I knew how important it was.' Why Coco Gauff is happy Cincinnati Open remained in Mason

MASON, Ohio − Thirty minutes after gates opened Monday morning at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for the Cincinnati Open, a large number of fans took a direct line to Court 5 to spectate the practice session of World No. 2 Coco Gauff.

Of course, Gauff has fond memories of Mason. One year ago, the "Summer of Coco" that included her first Grand Slam made a pitstop in Warren County, where Gauff became the first teenager to win the Cincinnati Open since 1968 and first to win five career titles since 2009.

Gauff's championship victory over Karolina Muchova was obviously on her mind upon her return to Cincinnati this weekend, along with how she watched the Carlos Alcaraz-Novak Djokovic men's final in two different states.

"I landed in Florida and the men's match was still going," Gauff laughed Monday during a pre-tournament interview.

Gauff and Djokovic helped announce the news in October that the Cincinnati Open would stay in Mason for the next 25 years.

Before she was winning it all, Gauff new how special the Cincinnati Open was in Mason through her "McCoco" doubles days with Madeira native Caty McNally. The tandem reached the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open in 2021 then reached the US Open finals before losing a few weeks later.

"Winning here and knowing Caty McNally, I knew how important it was for the community for the tournament to stay," Gauff said.

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'Cincinnati is such a sports town.'

With a record-breaking crowd on hand last year to watch her win the Rookwood Cup, Gauff learned firsthand how Southwestern Ohio feels about athletics. She also felt it through her days on the tour, with several Cincinnati natives like Peyton Stearns and J.J. Wolf making the leap to go pro.

"Cincinnati is such a sports town with the Reds, Bengals and tennis," Gauff said. "Hopefully with this staying here, we can get a lot more of the local community kids playing. There are obviously a lot of pro players coming out of here."

Having the tournament stay in Mason, according to Gauff, provides a key steppingstone for more inspiring players to follow their dreams on the court.

"When you have a pro tournament here, it makes a big difference because kids can see themselves in whoever they watch play," she explained.

It's not just another stop on the tour or a tune-up for the US Open, especially with Beemok Capital's $260 million investment plans that will be done in time for the 2025 event.

"It's already a big event, but it's gotten even bigger. I'm guessing the goal is to try to get it on the standard of Indian Wells and Miami," Gauff said. "I know players enjoy playing this tournament. It's nice to see them doing their best to make it better for players and fans."

Can Cincinnati offer a turnaround to Gauff's summer?

Gauff's presence sends autograph-seekers into a frenzy in Mason, and Gauff is hoping the "great crowd support" from the hometown fans can help her bounce back from a tough summer.

Gauff was one of three flag-bearers in the Paris Olympics in Cincinnati this week, but on the court has been a struggle with three consecutive Round of 16 exits (Wimbledon, Paris, Toronto).

"When you come back to a place you've had success, you feel like you're finding yourself again," Gauff said.

Despite the pressure as she hovers near the summit of the WTA Rankings Leaderboard, Gauff is focused on taming the high expectations she sets for herself.

"I've put a lot of pressure on myself to keep winning. I'm trying to take a step back and just enjoy what I've done so far and use that experience to push me forward," Gauff said. "This week, I'm trying to be more positive to myself. When I do that, I play better."

Gauff's title defense will begin Wednesday against either Yulia Putintseva or qualifier Harriet Dart.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's why Coco Gauff is happy Cincinnati Open stayed in Mason