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Storms Force Major Delays at Cincinnati Open Qualifying

Delays forced shelter advisories, extensive court-drying operations, leaving organizers racing to compress qualifying before the main draw.

Overview

  • Heavy storms delayed play and sent fans to shelter on Tuesday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, disrupting the opening day of qualifying and prompting hour-long postponements.
  • Tournament crews used Vaptors and other accelerated drying methods to restore courts with a target of 30 to 45 minutes after rain stops, but intense rain and high humidity repeatedly slowed recovery.
  • Organizers pushed back gate openings on Wednesday and some outlets reported that that day's qualifying was canceled, with roughly 33 matches reported lost and dozens more pushed into a compressed schedule.
  • As of Thursday, Aug. 13, officials continued to post real-time schedule updates while working to finish remaining qualifying matches before main-draw play begins.
  • The weather has raised practical questions about the venue and calendar because large qualifying draws, lack of a roofed show court, and tight pre‑US Open timing amplify the effect of any rain delays.