Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina secured the WTA 500 title at the Ningbo Open on Sunday, signaling the near end of China’s 2024 tennis season.
In September, the global tennis spotlight turned to China, spreading tennis fever across social media platforms. Many fans and professionals believe that the momentum of the Paris Olympics reaches its peak during the Chinese tennis season.
CHINESE STARS AT HOME
One of the most exciting aspects of this fall tennis season has been the strong showing of China’s players on home soil.
Zheng Qinwen (L) and Aryna Sabalenka pose during the awards ceremony of the women’s singles final match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the 2024 Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, 13 October 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
22-year-old Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, after an impressive performance at the China Open, qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time at the Wuhan Open. Wang Veteran Zhang Shuai also bounced back, putting in a strong performance at the China Open after a 24-match losing streak.
In the men’s sector, 19-year-old Shang Juncheng climbed into the world’s top 50, becoming the first player born after 2005 to do so. Zhang Zhizhen also retained his top 50 ranking, marking the first time two Chinese men have simultaneously entered the world’s top 50 rankings. Buyunchaokete had a breakout season, beating several top-25, top-20, and even top-10 players on his way to the semifinals of the China Open.
This season has seen significant progress for the Chinese players. The new generation not only achieved individual success but also pushed each other collectively, continuing to rewrite the history of Chinese tennis.
Wang started paying attention to the sport,” he said.
Zhang Zhizhen acknowledged the rise of China’s new talents: “I won’t always be the number 1 player in China. I will do my best to stay at the top for as long as I can, but it’s great to see young players keep pushing forward and surpassing me, Zhang said.
International stars are also thriving in China this season. The ATP 500 China Open men’s final, featuring world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, attracted worldwide attention. Their 201-minute match was hailed as Grand Slam worthy.
Summing up his three weeks in China, Alcaraz said: “It’s been very good progress. Of course, lifting the trophy in Beijing was a great thing to achieve. Coming here, I went further than last year, so this is a great point Good. “
Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka noted: “The increase in the number of people who know about tennis this season is a good thing for me. Because when there are more spectators, the players have a greater passion for competing.”
PACKED ARENAS, COMMUNITY RECORD
Packed stadiums throughout China’s tennis season reflect the country’s growing interest in the sport. Events such as the China Open, Shanghai Masters and Wuhan Open broke records for attendance and ticket sales. The China Open itself attracted nearly 300,000 spectators, a 50 percent increase from last year, with total ticket revenue surpassing 80 million yuan (about 11.3 million US dollars), setting a new record.
A local fan surnamed Zhang, who lives near the National Tennis Center in Beijing, expressed his excitement as he returned to Diamond Court for the China Open. “This year feels very different. “The population is much larger, and since the Paris Olympics, interest in tennis has increased rapidly,” he said.
In Wuhan, a fan surnamed Li expressed similar sentiments: “This year, I saw significant changes in the world of tennis. More people are attending matches, and many are actively buying tickets instead of relying on free admission. My friends and I bought tickets we have been around for a long time. Apart from that, there are many more young fans, especially children.”
In cyberspace, rumors are just as strong. Baidu.com reported a 1,944 percent increase in searches related to the China Open. X-like social media platform Weibo saw more than 2.87 million posts and more than 46.8 billion views on tennis-related topics during the tournament.
Despite the rain, more than 220,000 fans attended the Shanghai Masters over the National Day holiday. Merchandise sales also hit a record high, with daily revenue exceeding one million yuan in the first week.
The fan base is also growing, with an increasing number of viewers from outside China’s major cities. At the China Open, 140,000 fans came from outside Beijing, including 13,000 international visitors. In Shanghai, 70 percent of participants came from outside the city, and 7 percent came from abroad.
Wang Xueli, Director of the Sports Industry Development Center at Tsinghua University, commented on the recent tennis craze: “The essence of following sports lies in cultural identity. The qualities and values contained in this sport are accepted by fans. This reflects recognition one’s preferences.”
TENNIS FEVER IS SPREADING BEYOND THE COURT
The surge in Chinese interest is not only limited to stadiums, but also local tennis courts, which are now in high demand. Li Li, a longtime tennis lover from Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, noted that courts in his city have been fully booked since Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic victory. “More courts are also being built,” he said.
In Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, tennis coach Tang
E-commerce data supports this surge in interest. On October 20 alone, more than 100 pairs of the popular tennis shoes for beginners were sold in 24 hours on Tmall. Pre-sales of high-end tennis rackets for the “11.11 Global Shopping Festival” on Tmall have skyrocketed, with the top 12 models averaging prices above 1,500 yuan.
The development of tennis in China is also driving the growth of the tennis equipment market. Leading sportswear brands such as ANTA and XTEP have expanded their tennis-related offerings. XTEP’s marketing director said: “We experienced firsthand the dynamic tennis atmosphere in China this season. This has strengthened our confidence in investing in tennis and developing products tailored to the needs of enthusiasts.”
Zhang Jianyong, Chairman of Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd, commented: “As title sponsor, we have collaborated with the China Open for 15 seasons, combining the excitement of tennis with the appeal of our vehicles while witnessing mutual growth during our long-term partnership. “
Wang Xueli added: “Top athletes have enormous value in promoting the sport globally. The rise of Chinese tennis players this year has generated a strong positive response, benefiting competitive performance and the education sector.”
The enthusiasm sparked by the Paris Olympics has also encouraged more people to try the sport, giving hope to many aspiring young athletes.
Jin Cheng, a high school player from Beijing who was a ball boy at last year’s China Open, has noticed changes in the tennis training market. “In the past year, there have been more foreign coaches in Beijing, and the choice has increased significantly. “It feels like suddenly there are lots of new kids learning tennis,” said his mother.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Wang Zicong competes in an ITF tournament in the Dominican Republic with his father. Even though he’s far from home, he feels the joy of tennis in China: “When I scroll through TikTok, I see a lot more tennis content now,” Wang said.
Reflecting on the collective breakthrough of the Chinese players, Wang’s father said: “With the rise of players like Zheng Qinwen, Shang Juncheng, and Zhang Zhizhen, it feels as if everything has lifted. I am very grateful to these athletes. Their success has opened up endless possibilities for young tennis players in China.”
The enthusiasm sparked by the Paris Olympics has carried over to China’s tennis season, sparking increased participation. From fans flocking to the courts for their first tennis lessons to young players aspiring to be the next Zheng Qinwen or Zhang Zhizhen, this season represents a watershed moment in the development of tennis in China.
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