The China Open stirs controversy again: Outside spectators shouting for ticket refunds leaves Hubert Hurkacz bewildered, schedule criticized for disregarding female players

The China Open is once again caught in a public relations storm! Despite intense matches on the court, the grievances of fans outside have become a peculiar “focus” since the tournament’s start.

On the second day of the main draw, a conflict broke out among outside fans, an incident many online have labeled “the darkest moment in the history of the China Open.” The cause was the doubles match between Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete and Zverev being scheduled on Court 5, a small venue with limited capacity. However, because a Chinese player was competing, the stands quickly filled up, leaving many ticket holders unable to enter and watch the match. This led to visible dissatisfaction at the scene, with fans even chanting “refund tickets” in unison.

Fans’ dissatisfaction mainly centered on the unreasonable court allocation. Court 5, being a small venue, stops admitting spectators once full, causing ticket holders to miss the matches they had eagerly anticipated. One fan at the scene said, “We paid for tickets to support Chinese players, but due to poor venue choices, we couldn’t watch the matches. The experience was terrible.”

The event organizers seemed to have underestimated the immense popularity of Chinese players domestically. When Bu Yunchaokete appeared confused on Court 5, chaos outside had already unfolded. Despite the turmoil, Bu Yunchaokete and Norrie defeated Zverev/Melo 7-6(5), 6-4 to advance to the second round of men’s doubles.

In recent years, the China Open’s schedule has frequently been criticized by fans. On the first day of the main draw this year, two relatively unknown Chinese young players were pushed into the big stadium, sparking many fans’ doubts. On the second day, Zhang Zhizhen’s match was assigned to the Lotus Court, while Vekic and Khachanov’s match was placed in the Diamond Court, which also drew considerable dissatisfaction from many fans.

If the schedule arrangements on the first two days were merely commercial decisions aiming to maximize “popularity,” then the schedule on the third day of the China Open appears highly controversial.

On the third day, among the five matches on Diamond Court, three were men’s matches. It should be noted that the women’s event at the China Open is a WTA 1000-level tournament, which is much higher than the men’s ATP 500-level. Moreover, the top 75 female players in the world were required to participate, including stars like Zheng Qinwen, Gauff, Swiatek, and Rybakina. However, the women’s singles matches seemed deliberately sidelined or marginalized by the organizers, while men’s matches were promoted as the main attraction, prompting many fans on social media to shout, “Are you trying to rival the Shanghai Masters? Don’t forget your roots!”

Additionally, on the third day, the match of Chinese young player Shang Juncheng was “assigned” to the Yingyue Court, a decision that also sparked strong dissatisfaction among fans.

This year, after losing the star players World No.1 Alcaraz and World No.1 Sabalenka, and with few top male players participating and the competition not yet at a crucial stage, the decision to schedule three of the five matches on the main court as men’s singles is indeed debatable.

Especially since this edition of the China Open has been overshadowed by Sabalenka’s withdrawal and uncertainty over Zheng Qinwen’s participation, the organizers should pay more attention to “fans’ needs” to ensure spectators can truly enjoy high-quality matches at a domestic event.

For many years, compared to the continuous improvements in hardware at the China Open, shortcomings in scheduling and event services have persisted.

For fans, they hope to experience the “civility” and “warmth” of the capital city Beijing and feel “at home” within the tournament venue. Fans spend money on tickets to see their national heroes shine and deserve to feel like “hosts.” Organizers should provide more convenient and diverse services and enjoyment for the audience.

For players, many who come to compete expect the China Open, as a top domestic tennis event, to offer efficient, convenient, and thoughtful services, while also hoping to experience the charm of the capital and the diversity of Chinese culture. While pursuing commercial value, the China Open should also emphasize the viewing experience for spectators and fairness for players.

Indeed, the China Open organizers face a “heavy burden.” Successfully running this event is not just about “talking on paper.” We have seen the China Open’s efforts over recent years to listen to fans and media opinions and to balance commercial interests, TV broadcasting, and live spectator experience, but clearly, the road ahead remains long and challenging.

As the tournament progresses, whether organizers will optimize and adjust the schedule will become a key focus. For ticket-holding fans, they simply hope their voices are heard and that they no longer face the embarrassment of “having tickets but unable to enter.”

For the China Open itself, the real challenge may lie not on the court but in how to reconcile various interests and demands so that the event reflects professional standards while maintaining spectator enthusiasm.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)