Feature: Post-Olympics tennis surge sees new chapter in China's season

by Sportswriters Li Bowen, Gao Meng, Li Chunyu

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina secured the WTA 500 title at the Ningbo Open on Sunday, signaling the near conclusion 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 the momentum from the Paris Olympics reached its peak during the Chinese tennis season.

CHINESE STARS ON HOME TURF

One of the most thrilling aspects of this autumn's tennis season has been the strong performances of Chinese players on home soil.

The 22-year-old Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, following an impressive run at the China Open, qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time at the Wuhan Open. Wang Xinyu reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal in Wuhan, setting a new personal best, while Yuan Yue, alongside Dutch partner Demi Schuurs, won her first WTA doubles title in Ningbo. Veteran player Zhang Shuai also made a comeback, delivering a strong performance at the China Open after a 24-match losing streak.

On the men's side, 19-year-old Shang Juncheng rose 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 been simultaneously ranked among the world's top 50. Buyunchaokete had a breakout season, defeating several top-25, top-20, and even top-10 players on his way to the China Open semifinals.

This season has seen significant strides for Chinese players. A new generation is not only achieving individual success but also pushing each other collectively, continuously rewriting the history of Chinese tennis.

Wang Xinyu, who faced Zheng Qinwen in an all-Chinese clash at the Wuhan Open, reflected on this progress: "In the past two years, both the men's and women's players have been improving. It's a great time for tennis. After the Olympics, it feels like more people are starting to pay attention to the sport," she said.

Zhang Zhizhen acknowledged the rise of new Chinese talents: "I won't always be the No. 1 in China. I'll do my best to stay at the top for as long as I can, but it's great to see younger players pushing forward and surpassing me," said Zhang.

International stars also thrived in China this season. The ATP 500 China Open men's final, featuring world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, drew worldwide attention. Their 201-minute match was lauded as Grand Slam-worthy.

Summarizing his three weeks in China, Alcaraz said: "It has been a really good swing. Obviously, lifting the trophy in Beijing was a great thing to achieve. Coming here, I went farther than last year, so it was a good point."

Belarusian tennis ace Aryna Sabalenka noted: "The increasing number of people who know about tennis this season is a good thing for me. Because when there are more spectators, players have more passion to compete."

PACKED ARENAS, RECORD CROWDS

Packed stadiums throughout the Chinese tennis season reflected the country's growing passion for the sport. Events like the China Open, Shanghai Masters, and Wuhan Open saw record-breaking attendance and ticket sales. The China Open alone attracted nearly 300,000 spectators, a 50 percent increase from last year, with total ticket revenue surpassing 80 million yuan (about 11.3 million U.S. dollars), setting a new record.

A local fan surnamed Zhang, residing near the National Tennis Center in Beijing, expressed her excitement as she returned to the Diamond Court for the China Open. "This year feels so different. There are noticeably more people, and since the Paris Olympics, interest in tennis has skyrocketed," she said.

In Wuhan, a fan surnamed Li shared similar sentiments: "This year, I've seen a significant change in the tennis scene. More people are attending matches, and many are actively purchasing tickets instead of relying on complimentary passes. My friends and I bought our tickets long ago. Additionally, there are many more young fans, especially children."

Online, the buzz was equally strong. Baidu.com reported a 1,944 percent surge in searches related to the China Open. X-like social media platform Weibo saw over 2.87 million posts and more than 46.8 billion views on tennis-related topics during the tournament.

Despite the rain, over 220,000 fans attended the Shanghai Masters during the National Day holiday. Merchandise sales also hit record highs, with daily revenues surpassing one million yuan during the first week.

The fan base is also evolving, with a growing number of spectators 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 attendees were from outside the city, and 7 percent traveled from abroad.

Wang Xueli, Director of the Center for Development of Sports Industry at Tsinghua University, remarked on the recent tennis craze: "At the core of following a sport lies cultural identity. The qualities and values that the sport embodies resonate with fans. This reflects recognition of one's preferences."

TENNIS FEVER SPREADS BEYOND THE COURTS

The surge in interest among Chinese people has extended beyond stadiums to local tennis courts, which are now in high demand. Li Li, a long-time tennis lover from Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, noted that courts in her city have been fully booked since Zheng Qinwen's Olympic victory. "More courts are being built, too," she said.

In Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, tennis coach Tang Xinglei echoed this trend: "I've been fully booked for evening lessons. Many new players are drawn to the sport by the recent buzz," he said.

E-commerce data supports this surge in interest. On October 20 alone, over 100 pairs of 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.

China's booming tennis scene is also driving growth in the tennis equipment market. Leading sportswear brands like ANTA and XTEP have expanded their tennis-related offerings. XTEP's marketing director noted: "We experienced firsthand the vibrant tennis atmosphere in China this season. It has reinforced 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 a chief sponsor, we have collaborated with the China Open for 15 seasons, merging the excitement of tennis with the allure of our vehicles while witnessing mutual growth through our long-term partnership."

Wang Xueli added: "Top athletes have immense value in promoting the sport globally. This year's rise of Chinese tennis players has provided strong positive feedback, benefiting both the competitive performance and education sectors."

The enthusiasm sparked by the Paris Olympics has also encouraged more individuals to try the sport, instilling hope in many aspiring young athletes.

Jin Cheng, a middle school player from Beijing who served as a ball boy at last year's China Open, has noticed changes in the tennis training market. "In the past year, there are more foreign coaches in Beijing, and the choices have significantly increased. It feels like there are suddenly many new kids learning tennis," his mother said.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Wang Zicong is competing in ITF tournaments in the Dominican Republic with his father. Despite being far from home, he feels the excitement of tennis in China: "When I scroll through TikTok, I notice a lot more tennis contents now," Wang said.

Reflecting on the collective breakthroughs of Chinese players, Wang's father said: "With players like Zheng Qinwen, Shang Juncheng, and Zhang Zhizhen rising to prominence, it feels like the ceiling has been lifted. I'm incredibly grateful to these athletes. Their success has opened limitless possibilities for young tennis players in China."

The enthusiasm ignited by the Paris Olympics has carried over into China's tennis season, fueling an upsurge in participation. From fans flocking to courts for their first tennis lessons to young players aspiring to become the next Zheng Qinwen or Zhang Zhizhen, this season represents a pivotal moment in the development of tennis in China. ■