At center court with Cincinnati Open intern Kylene Chu

Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kylene Chu had a front-row seat to the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament and world-renowned players who battled it out on center court. She recalls the fierce competition, the thrill of seeing an ace and the excitement the tournament brought to her city.

Now Chu, a rising third-year finance student, is part of that competition and helping bring the action to life from behind the scenes. As a finance and inventory control intern at the Cincinnati Open, Chu evaluates the event’s revenue and makes sure this year’s competition goes on without a hitch ― all from an office overlooking the tournament’s courts and its sprawling campus just off Interstate 71.

We spent a few minutes talking with Chu about being a longtime fan of the two-week event as well as her work that’s bringing in some of tennis’ top-ranked names, including Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Here’s what she had to say:

Q: What are your responsibilities as a finance and inventory control intern?

KC: My job is two-pronged: analyzing reports and inventory control.

Prior to the tournament I reviewed reports from last year’s event to understand different areas of revenue, especially items that were relevant to putting on a bigger event this year. I analyzed reports to make sense of different tournament venues and how that information could inform this year’s revenue.

I looked at all the point-of-sales systems (POS) ― concessions, merchandise, bars and restaurants ― by each individual tennis session, day and location to understand how different products perform across the entire venue or within a specific location.

On the inventory side, I ensured the 108 POS systems were cleaned and cleared of past data, set up in the proper location and that their serial numbers were imputed and correct. I also made sure the merchandise that was ordered ― water bottles, souvenirs, t-shirts, shirts, sweaters, hats, tote bags and tennis balls ― was actually what the organization received.

Q: What makes this internship unique?

KC: I think the biggest difference between this and past internships I’ve had is the tangibility of working toward an event. It’s often difficult as an intern to see what all your work is going toward, to understand the bigger picture. But I’m in a unique position here where I got to, from day one, start working on the tournament. Seeing all my work come to fruition in real life is really fulfilling.

Q: What are a few valuable things you’ve learned on the job?

KC: Prior to joining the organization I didn’t quite understand what other departments did pertaining to the greater picture of the tournament. I’ve had the opportunity to work with other departments and see what they were working on, like partnerships, credentials and volunteer management.

Second, I’ve had to conceptualize what a 14-day event with around 300,000 spectators looks like. A lot of the learning curve is still to come with managing the actual event in the coming days.

Third, I’ve gained insight into collaborating very closely with a co-worker ― my fellow finance intern ― making sure we’re always communicating and learning each other’s different work styles, so that we can work efficiently and cohesively.

Q: What challenges have you had to overcome during the internship?

KC: During the start of my internship the facility was under construction. Through a $260 million renovation, the site doubled its size to 40 acres, including the addition of 10 practice courts, a six-court indoor tennis facility, a new pavilion for fans, a park-like landscape throughout the campus and a new players’ clubhouse with restaurants and bars.

The biggest challenge was learning the new campus layout amid the construction. I had to wear a hard hat and protective gear when exploring where, for example, all 108 POS systems were going to be placed so that during the tournament we were prepared to find everything with ease.

Q: Favorite thing about the internship?

KC: My favorite part of the internship has been working with and supporting other interns while working together toward the same goal. And it isn’t just the interns, but the whole staff is there to help. That speaks a lot to the culture here of people willing to stop what they’re doing and help others.

It’s also fun to be in an atmosphere where fellow interns play tennis or, like me, are more casual spectators who are learning a lot about the game, the tournament and different tournament types and levels. It adds a nice element to the environment.

Q: Why is the Cincinnati Open special to you?

KC: I am from Cincinnati so I was really lucky to grow up visiting the tournament as a spectator. I saw how this event rallied the community and brought everyone together. There was always a lot of chatter about it while it happened, but before the tournament there was also a lot of excitement. It’s been a really cool, full-circle moment for me, from being a spectator to now working for the tournament and being part of making that excitement happen for the city that I live in.

Q: What lessons have you learned from watching tennis?

KC: Growing up, my favorite players were Serena and Venus Williams. As a young female athlete ― I was a swimmer ― I thought the Williams sisters were great examples of women in sports who were dominating the arena. I really appreciated their dynamic with each other and their understanding that they wouldn’t be as successful as they were if they didn’t have each other. I have an older sister who did the same sports as I did, so I related a lot on a personal level. And I think there’s a lot to be said about the idea that you can get further working with others than you can by yourself.

Q: Now that the tournament has started, what are you most looking forward to?

KC: While I’m still pulling daily reports, making sure the systems are working and supporting co-workers, I’m excited to see the facility open and full of patrons and players. I’m sure many people will be surprised by the changes on the campus. I think it’ll just feel very surreal to see it come to life. It’s probably going to be a crazy 14 days, but I am excited for that.