Backed by the hefty forehand of superstar Li Na, the popularity of tennis in China has been soaring to new heights. In tandem with this growth, new tournaments have been springing up all around the country. One of the newest additions to the trend is the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Shenzhen Open, a World Tour 250 event that will see some of the best male players on Earth land in the Pearl River Delta this month.
Building upon the existing Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Shenzhen Open, which started in 2013 and takes place at the end of the year, the men’s event will run from September 22-28 and has attracted the likes of world number five David Ferrer, as well as top 20 players Richard Gasquet and Tommy Robredo. Also appearing is Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who has been shooting up the tennis ladder this year, causing major upsets against strong competitors like Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro.
“I am thrilled to come to Shenzhen for the first time this September to participate in this brand-new tournament and to write a new chapter for tennis by joining the first ATP China swing in history,” said Gasquet, who is currently ranked 14 in the world. “I am very much looking forward to leaving some memories behind for Chinese fans together with other players.”
Like the WTA competition, the Shenzhen Open is being held at Longgang Sports Center, a facility with 32 hard courts, both indoor and outdoor, and a seating capacity of 4,000 people.
The contest will inaugurate the first China swing in ATP history, with three successive weeks of aces, volleys and ground strokes scheduled to take place, the prestige of the clashes rising over the course of the period. On September 29, the 500 Series China Open will commence in Beijing, drawing both male and female players, followed by the Shanghai Masters, the only Masters 1000 event currently held in Asia.
It’s an important step in the Middle Kingdom’s tennis ambitions. As Alison Lee, ATP Executive Vice President, International Group, said on the ATP official website, “China has long been a growing market for men’s professional tennis and we’re delighted to strengthen our presence in the region through the addition of this ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Shenzhen. The opportunities for growth in China continue to abound.”
And it’s not just the men’s game that the booming nation is keenly eyeing. Guangdong’s neighbor to the north, Hunan, is simultaneously holding an inaugural tennis tournament. One of the top-tier women’s events, the Wuhan Open is expected to attract almost all the current female greats, including American powerhouse Serena Williams and local idol Li Na.
Zhu Yi, Chairman of the Grand Gemdale Tennis Club and the man behind the organization and operation of the Shenzhen Open, is confident that the upcoming contest will not disappoint tennis lovers. “As the first year of the Shenzhen Open, many world-class players will come here and offer an unparalleled level of visual feast for fans with their superb talents and personal charms,” he earlier enthused. “All preparation work has been basically completed and Shenzhen is like a phoenix ready to fly high.”
// The inaugural Shenzhen Open takes place September 22-28 at the Longgang Sports Center. (www.shenzhenopen.com)
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