USTA Adds Cincy Tournament To Portfolio

The ATP antitrust suit seems to be coming to a head, and the chances for the plaintiffs seem to diminish as the judge overseeing the trial yesterday expresses great skepticism regarding the merits of the case. The eight-person jury is meeting for the first time today to deliberate on the 12-day-old trial. Yesterday morning, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet strikes all but the core antitrust charge from Hamburg’s case, and he tells counsel that “complexity” around the case and sports industry make proving any violations of antitrust law a challenge. In other tennis news, the USTA has added to its tournament portfolio by reaching a deal with Tennis Cincinnati to acquire a majority interest in the ATP Tour Western & Southern Financial Group Masters tournament. The two groups also are in talks to potentially secure a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament for a future combined men's and women's event.