The Grand Slam in the South is known as the ‘China Swing’: A major boost for tennis in the land of a billion people
From Beijing, Shanghai to Wuhan, the top-ranked players worldwide are currently and will be fully assembled in China to participate in reputable tournaments. This is expected to provide a strong impetus to tennis in the country of a billion people.
For Li Wei, a tennis lover, playing tennis weekly became a routine after seeing star Zheng Qinwen claim the women’s singles gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"I came to tennis rather late, but it is truly an inspiring sport," Li shared with Global Times. She mentioned that her first time watching elite tennis live was at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where world No.1 Jannik Sinner defeated the legend Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, in the final. Li’s hometown, Chengdu (Sichuan, China), also recently hosted an ATP 250 event, and she seized the opportunity to watch it live.
China, the new favorite destination for tennis enthusiasts
Li Wei’s growing passion reflects a spreading trend throughout China, where the tennis season is flourishing, shaping both the professional circuit and grassroots movement. Alongside two prominent tournaments, the China Open in Beijing and the Shanghai Masters, a host of new cities have begun hosting events.
Guangzhou, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Jiujiang, and Hong Kong will hold tournaments under the ATP or WTA Tour. Additionally, Changsha (Hunan province), Hangzhou (Zhejiang province), and Jingmen (Hubei province) will host events with a total prize point of 250. Notably, the Billie Jean King Cup, a prestigious women’s team competition, was held in Shenzhen from September 16 to 21. This marked the first time the finals were hosted in China, with Shenzhen set to remain the host city until 2027.
The strong presence of homegrown players in 2024 highlights the great potential of the "China Swing" season to promote local talent. Zheng Qinwen reached the semifinals of the China Open and later the final of the Wuhan Open, where Wang Xinyu also made it to the semifinals. On the men’s side, Bu Yunchaokete caused a major surprise by reaching the semifinals, defeating two top-20 players and climbing to world No.69 in Beijing. Shang Juncheng won his first ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open, while Zhang Zhizhen reached the final in Hangzhou. This season, although Wu Yibing was stopped in the semifinals in Hangzhou, he made a strong impression by eliminating two tough stars, sixth seed Adrian Mannarino and Daniil Medvedev (No.2).
With Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner present, the Shanghai Masters can be seen as a mini Grand Slam.
Great opportunities for local players
China’s tennis ecosystem is rapidly expanding. Tennis journalist Ge Xiaoqian believes that organizing lower-tier Tour events creates more chances for young players to gain experience. "Many professional players currently face financial difficulties due to high travel and training costs," Ge told Global Times. "For young domestic players, competing at home significantly reduces expenses while honing skills in a demanding schedule."
A report from the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) stated that by August 2024, the nationwide number of tennis courts reached 53,805, an increase of over 8% compared to 2021, indicating the public’s growing engagement with the sport.
At that time, the CTA also announced plans to develop the tennis ecosystem, aiming to place more than 10 Chinese players in the world’s Top 100 while training coaches and experts capable of competing internationally. The plan also targets building 10 "tennis-strong provinces" and 100 "tennis-strong cities," supported by youth training centers and thousands of grassroots clubs.
Hosting major tournaments in various regional centers not only delivers exciting matches but also stimulates local economic growth through tourism, accommodation, dining, and related services, especially in cities beyond traditional hubs. The CTA estimates the China tennis season could attract over 1 million spectators, generating over 2 billion yuan in spending in sectors like restaurants and hotels.
Combining sports and culture
Suzhou, one of the emerging cities hosting tournaments, exemplifies the fusion of tennis and cultural identity. Zhou Yunsong, director of the WTA Suzhou Open, said that beyond the sporting aspect, organizers aim to provide players with an unforgettable cultural experience.
"All participants rank within the Top 100 globally, with 80-90% being international athletes," Zhou shared, emphasizing Suzhou’s rich cultural and historical heritage, which players greatly appreciate. He also revealed that some players even showed interest in watching the renowned local football league, the Jiangsu City Championship, commonly called the Suzhou League, during the tournament. Meanwhile, He Yifei, WTA’s Asia-Pacific executive director, believes Suzhou’s unique natural environment will enrich the overall experience for players at the event.
Regarding the impact on developing domestic young talent, Zhou stressed that with the multi-level tournament system now held in China, young players will surely mature. "A key part of the overall progress in Chinese tennis, including youth, stems from the growing number of international tournaments," he told Global Times. "These events allow many players to experience top-level tennis firsthand and inspire more young people to love the sport. I believe we will see many young Chinese faces shine on the international stage in the future."
According to Zhou, organizing diverse tournaments will attract many players to compete in China, not just the top-ranked ones. From major events to grassroots activities, the "China Swing" has evolved into a comprehensive platform that supports elite competition while fostering local talent development.
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