Current location:sport >>
Shanghai serves up a treat
sport192People have gathered around
IntroductionPoland's Hubert Hurkacz kisses the trophy after beating Russia's Andrey Rublev in the Rolex Shanghai ...
Poland's Hubert Hurkacz kisses the trophy after beating Russia's Andrey Rublev in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final on Sunday. In a thrilling contest, Hurkacz saved a match point to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8). AFP
Asia's premier ATP tournament returns bigger and better than ever to the acclaim of fans and players
With a new champion crowned, venue renovations lauded and record revenues achieved, the Rolex Shanghai Masters returned from a four-year pandemic hiatus to resounding acclaim last week.
Organizers, though, are keen to build on the improvements after pulling off a huge challenge to deliver an expanded tournament to higher standards at their first attempt.
"We're actually in uncharted waters," tournament director Michael Luevano told China Daily last week in his office at Qizhong Tennis Center in Shanghai's southern suburbs.
"The player population has increased by a third. We have bigger locker rooms, bigger gyms and more people to cater to, and there are many more matches.
"I think the challenge becomes that we have to maintain a very high level of services for players and all participants over a longer period. This is a new one for us."
As one of nine top-tier ATP 1000 events, and the only one of those in Asia, the Shanghai Masters this year expanded to a 12-day tournament with 96 players in the singles draw, up from eight days and 56 players. Madrid and Rome have undergone the same changes as part of the ATP's "One Vision" initiative.
Despite the absence of the injury-sidelined Rafael Nadal and last-minute withdrawal Novak Djokovic, the quality of play in Shanghai lived up to its billing as the apex of men's tennis in Asia Pacific, underscored by a fiercely contested final on Sunday.
Up against fifth seed and crowd favorite Andrey Rublev of Russia, rising Polish star Hubert Hurkacz fired 21 aces, winning 81 percent of his first-serve points, and saved a match point in the third-set tiebreaker to earn a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8) victory in over two hours.
The win in his third trip to Shanghai added a seventh ATP Tour title to Hurkacz's resume and his second at the 1000 level following his 2021 title run in Miami.
After securing one of the biggest wins of his career, the 26-year-old Hurkacz paid tribute to the organizers and the support of the Chinese fans.
"The tournament (director and staff), they made a great effort," he said.
"They always make great effort to communicate with the players... there's a new gym, the areas are bigger and better. It's a really well-organized tournament, and I think they're doing just an unbelievable job here."
Citing the overall positive feedback from players, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi heaped praise on the tournament's new incarnation.
"I think having tournaments like Shanghai elevated to two weeks completely raises the standards and the level of our tour tournaments," Gaudenzi said at the Shanghai Masters.
"Shanghai has already been leading that process in the last few years... We've got the four Grand Slams as the pinnacle of our sport, but we really also need to elevate our Masters. I think Shanghai is doing a great job," said the former Italian pro, who last visited Shanghai in 2000 when he competed at the then Heineken Open, the city's very first ATP event launched in 1998.
A fan poses for a photo with Roger Federer during the Shanghai Masters final at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai on Sunday. AP
Attracting the crowds
Twenty-five years have passed since professional tennis was introduced to Shanghai, yet, compared to other Masters hosts, there is still plenty of room for the market to grow in the city.
With a record total attendance of 190,000 this year, the Shanghai Masters still lags far behind the likes of Indian Wells in California, which easily attracts over 400,000 fans every year.
Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, and Miami all benefit from a corresponding women's event, but Chinese organizers are determined to catch up in the numbers game.
"That's where we still need to improve," said Yang Yibin, general manager of Juss Sports, organizer and promoter of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. "We are in a different development stage compared to other Masters hosts, and the tennis market in China is not fully mature yet.
"However, we will keep making greater efforts to draw more and more spectators on-site by adding more exciting events, such as junior tournaments and grassroots promotional activities, on our extended schedule."
Part of those efforts was the introduction of an International Tennis Federation J100 (grade-3) junior tournament during the second week of the Masters, helping Qizhong Tennis Center to draw in decent crowds even during workdays after the first week of the National Day holidays.
The appearance of Swiss legend and two-time former champion Roger Federer on the final weekend proved a masterstroke, with hordes of Federer fans swarming everywhere the 20-time major winner appeared.
With further facility upgrades on the way, smarter scheduling and better ticket promotions, Luevano is confident attendances will continue to rise.
"We take a long-term view with our fans. Are we disappointed that the stadium doesn't look full on certain days? Yes, but we have a plan," said the South California native, who's been involved in tournament management in Shanghai since 1998.
"We have the fan base, it's just the culture. It's a challenge, but it is really only about the development of the culture."
Home pride
Having a hometown hero to cheer on was another big bonus for fans.
Chinese men's No 1 Zhang Zhizhen, a native of Shanghai, rose to the occasion to reach the round of 16 last week — his best-ever run at a hard-court Masters tournament.
Zhang's impressive run capped a fine year for the 26-year-old, who reached the quarterfinals on clay at the Madrid Masters.
"I couldn't be more excited about that performance," Luevano said. "Hands down, 'Tripe Z' has shown that we've arrived.
"It's something that we've always dreamed of — to have a Chinese player of his caliber. And here we are. It happened at the best time this year."
With the future of Chinese men's tennis looking bright and the Shanghai Masters raising its game, the ATP is bullish on the sport's future globally.
"I think having a premium event of this size and relevance is really important for getting more kids to play tennis and engage a global audience," said Gaudenzi.
"You cannot be a truly global sport without a presence in China, so that's really important."
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Earthly Echo news portal”。http://saudiarabia.antjekoch.com/html-33f799945.html
Related articles
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
sportINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. will drive the pace car for the 108th ru ...
【sport】
Read moreXi inspects Changsha in central China's Hunan Province
sportChinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committ ...
【sport】
Read moreChina prepares to launch relay satellite Queqiao
sportThe combination of the relay satellite Queqiao-2 and the Long March-8 Y3 carrier rocket is verticall ...
【sport】
Read more
Popular articles
- Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
- China's modified Long March
- UN chief calls for restraint after Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel
- A London court rules against a Muslim girl who wanted to pray at a school known for strict rules
- Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
- National reunification unstoppable: Mainland spokesperson
Latest articles
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
ITV are quietly shelving a popular spin
China firmly against US, Japan's false narrative on China's nuclear policy
The US ambassador to Japan says boosting arms industry ties is key to a stronger security alliance
Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia
Courtney Love is hit by angry backlash from Taylor Swift fans after branding singer 'unimportant'
LINKS
- Wild weather: What to expect this weekend
- US, Britain announce partnership on AI safety, testing
- Hong Kong International Literary Festival returns March 4
- Trump loses bid to delay hush money trial pending gag order appeal
- Petrobras paid BRL 240.2 bi in taxes and royalties in 2023
- Evergrande shares suspended from trading as liquidation concerns mount
- VOX POPULI: Not everyone loves school lunch but it’s still vital for many
- BNDES to chair D20, group of major development banks
- China balloon: US military recovers sensors from wreckage
- Deputies surround burglar inside Pico Rivera funeral home