Tennis gains fresh momentum in China

Spectators pack the stands at the 2026 China Open in Beijing. (Photo from the official website of the China Open)

As the Guangzhou Open drew to a close, the China tennis season entered its final stretch. Now in its second year as a branded series, the season included eight international professional tournaments at different levels across multiple cities, creating a tennis festival that lasted nearly two months.

Breakthrough performances by Chinese players, closer integration of sports, culture, tourism, and commerce, and greater global exposure for China's stories all contributed to the season's outstanding performance.

Throughout the season, Chinese players competed across the country, delivering one surprise after another. China's Zheng Qinwen captured the women's singles title at the 2026 China Open, becoming the first Chinese woman to win the title in the tournament's 20-year history.

After undergoing elbow surgery and seeing her world ranking plunge, Zheng faced down outside criticism and fought her way back.

"I am just so grateful that I found the inner fire back. Right now, I'm trying to reach the best version of myself," she said.

Her journey from a difficult period of injury recovery to winning her maiden WTA 1000 crown on home soil is a testament to her resilience.

Zheng Qinwen competes at the China Open in Beijing. (Photo from the official website of the China Open)

Beyond the excitement on court, tournaments in the China tennis season have become important driving forces of consumption and economic growth, while tennis is becoming a popular lifestyle choice.

The China Open set new records for both attendance and consumer spending. More than 450,000 spectator visits were recorded during the tournament, with spectators from outside Beijing accounting for 60 percent.

Ticket revenue reached 132 million yuan (about $19.78 million), while related consumer spending surpassed 55 million yuan, both hitting record highs. Sales of licensed merchandise doubled from a year earlier. The influx of spectators gave a boost to consumer spending across the city.

The Shanghai Masters extended the tournament experience beyond the courts, creating diverse settings and opportunities for people to experience tennis in different parts of the city. This year, it launched a carnival featuring open training sessions, a tennis-themed museum, and celebrity exhibition matches beyond regular match hours.

"The tournament is no longer confined to a single venue. Through innovative activities such as a citywide stamp collecting activity, and combined tickets for multiple tournaments, we are bringing the excitement of tennis into neighborhoods across the city, extending the value of the tournament brand, and unlocking the potential for high-end consumption," said Yang Yibin, chairman of Shanghai Juss Sports and Entertainment Group.

This year's tournament attracted nearly 250,000 spectator visits, around 12 percent of whom came from overseas. Total revenue reached approximately 500 million yuan, with sponsorship, ticket sales, and revenue from TV broadcasting rights sharing all hitting record highs.

The Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, teamed up with shopping areas and scenic areas to offer exclusive discounts to ticket holders, connecting the tournament with tourism resources across the province.

It attracted a record 202,700 spectator visits, hitting a new high. The tournament generated an estimated 890 million yuan in overall economic benefits, up 26.24 percent from the previous year.

The Chengdu Open ran dedicated shuttle buses between the tournament venue and shopping areas around the city. On board, spectators could find shopping guides and scan QR codes to access ticket-holder offers. By showing their match tickets, they could enjoy discounts and special offers on dining, shopping, culture and tourism experience at nearly 3,000 businesses across the city.

Tennis enjoys global appeal, and the China tennis season provides a platform for exchange. Beyond the courts, international players can experience Chinese culture firsthand and share their stories of China with audiences around the world.

Elena Rybakina, the world No. 1 in women's singles, experiences Chinese culture at the Yuebo Academy by Dongqian Lake in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo courtesy of the Dongqian Lake scenic area)

During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the Hangzhou Open organized a nighttime cruise on West Lake aboard the "Moon Boat," offering players a close-up experience of traditional Chinese music, classical dance and the romantic charm of worshipping the moon.

Ahead of the Ningbo Open, Elena Rybakina, the world No. 1 in women's singles, visited the Yuebo Academy by Dongqian Lake. Dressed in Song Dynasty (960-1279) attire, she tried her hand at traditional tea making and painting oil-paper umbrellas.

Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina visited a Shu brocade cultural and creative park in Chengdu, where he watched the intricate process of weaving the traditional fabric on a drawloom. He said: "Tennis is all about rhythm and patience, while every inch of this brocade reflects a dedication passed down through generations."

On and off the court, more and more foreign players, referees and technical officials have learned to exchange greetings in Chinese. Chinese spectators, meanwhile, have won widespread praise from players for their spectator etiquette.

What has made an especially deep impression are the thoughtful gifts from Chinese fans, including hand-drawn portraits of tennis stars, handwritten letters of support and city-themed souvenirs.

After winning the China Open, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic said: "Chinese fans are among the best in the world. They bring me all kinds of gifts and wait for me for so long. Their thoughtfulness is truly touching."

Bai Xilin, director of the Tennis Administration Center of China's General Administration of Sport, said the China tennis season demonstrates the sport's value on multiple fronts.

"More and more people are coming to tennis tournaments not just for the matches, but also to experience the culture and emotional connections they offer," he said.