Recently, many high-level tennis events have been held in China, and the Chinese season has ushered in new breakthroughs.

Recently, China has hosted a series of high-level tennis tournaments, marking a significant breakthrough for the domestic tennis season. Just concluded, the Wuhan Open saw Chinese player Zheng Qinwen secure the runner-up position in the women’s singles, achieving her best performance in a WTA 1000-level event. In the semifinals leading up to this, she faced off against Wang Xinyu, making history as the first WTA 1000-level women’s singles semifinal in which two Chinese players competed against each other. Over the past month, the vibrant Chinese tennis season has witnessed several remarkable advancements.

Kicking off with simultaneous events in Chengdu and Hangzhou in mid-September, and culminating with the Jiangxi Open on November 3, this period has featured four ATP and six WTA tournaments across China—collectively referred to as the “Chinese Season.”

Hosting tournaments locally has enabled Chinese players to perform exceptionally well. Despite the demanding schedule and constant travel that typically take a toll on players’ stamina and performance, competing in familiar settings, along with the enthusiastic support from local audiences, has led to impressive results and rising world rankings. Zheng Qinwen reached the semifinals at the China Open and finished as runner-up in Wuhan. Wang Xinyu made her mark by advancing to the semifinals in a WTA 1000 event for the first time. Meanwhile, wild card entrant Zhang Shuai made it to the quarterfinals at the China Open and soared over 300 places in the world rankings.

The domestic tournaments have sparked the potential and competitive spirit among Chinese players. Nineteen-year-old Shang Juncheng claimed his first career ATP Challenger title in Chengdu, while Zhang Zhizhen reached the finals in Hangzhou, finishing as the runner-up. After advancing to the semifinals consecutively in Hangzhou and Beijing, Bu Yunchaokete saw his world ranking surge from outside the top one hundred to sixty-ninth—a career best. Wu Yibing reached the round of 32 at the Shanghai Masters, facing off against world number two Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling match that excited the audience.

Today, we are witnessing a positive cycle where domestic tournaments and local players mutually enhance each other’s success. Local players benefit from the home advantage, showcasing spectacular performances, while tournaments gain higher visibility because of these athletes’ achievements. Recently, the standout performances of Bu Yunchaokete and Zheng Qinwen at the China Open drew many first-time spectators, allowing them to experience the charm of tennis up close. Statistics show that ticket revenue for the 2024 China Open exceeded 80 million yuan, reflecting a 60% increase from last year and setting a historical record.

The continuous hosting of domestic tennis events has also fostered a vibrant atmosphere for both watching and learning the sport. More individuals are attending matches to learn the rules and etiquette related to tennis. The China Tennis Association has also been conducting “Little Tennis” promotion and experience activities at the China Open and Shanghai Masters, planting the seeds of dreams in young hearts.

Participation in sports is for everyone, and it benefits everyone. With the ongoing hosting of several high-level domestic tournaments, the competitive level of tennis in China continues to rise, the tennis population expands, and the culture surrounding the sport becomes more colorful—adding momentum to our goal of building a strong sporting nation and a healthier China.