Mason’s Peyton Stearns is coming home for a tennis event that sounds less like a traditional match and more like a sports rave with racquets. The rising American star will headline Red Bull BassLine at the Cincinnati Open this Saturday, bringing an unusual, high-speed showcase to the tournament’s newly transformed Mason campus.
Stearns is one of six current and former WTA players set to compete at 7 p.m. Saturday on Grandstand Court, according to Local 12. The first all-women’s edition of the exhibition will use a fast tiebreak knockout format, with former WTA standout Coco Vandeweghe also in the field and Grammy-nominated DJ TOKiMONSTA providing the soundtrack.
Red Bull BassLine Brings A Faster, Louder Tennis Format
The Cincinnati Open describes Red Bull BassLine as the centerpiece of Community Weekend, a two-day fan celebration leading into main-draw play. The Cincinnati Open says the exhibition will feature current and former pros trading tiebreaks in a knockout competition, while fans can also catch practices, autograph sessions, kids’ activities and other events around the grounds.
Red Bull’s official event page says the U.S. debut will feature six players competing in a quick-fire tournament to the beat of a live on-court DJ. The format even removes umpires, leaving players to make the calls themselves—a setup that could make for either refreshing spontaneity or some very energetic arguments over the baseline.
Stearns Returns With Two WTA Titles And A Longhorn Legacy
Stearns arrives in Mason after winning the Austin title earlier this year, the second WTA singles championship of her career. Her official WTA profile also notes that she became the first Texas Longhorn to win the NCAA women’s singles championship and helped the program claim back-to-back NCAA team titles.
The Mason native turned professional in 2022 and has continued building a profile as one of the United States’ emerging tennis names. Returning to the Cincinnati area for a major tournament weekend gives Stearns a rare chance to play in front of a hometown crowd before the more conventional tournament grind begins.
Community Weekend Starts Before The Main Draw
Admission to Red Bull BassLine includes access to the Cincinnati Open grounds beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, according to Local 12. The weekend continues Sunday with the inaugural Cincinnati Open 5K, additional Kids Day programming, player practices and family-friendly activities.
Main-draw competition begins Tuesday, while the men’s and women’s finals are scheduled for Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. The Cincinnati Open is being staged at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, making Stearns’ appearance one of the weekend’s clearest local storylines before the tournament’s biggest names take over.
