On the evening of October 13, during the women’s singles final of the 2024 Wuhan Tennis Open, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen faced off against her longtime rival Aryna Sabalenka in a tough three-set battle. Though she ultimately fell short, Zheng’s fighting spirit and determination earned her a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,000. After the match, she emotionally remarked, “Wuhan is where my dreams began.” Indeed, it was in Wuhan that a young Zheng embarked on her tennis journey and set her life’s course. Today, she has achieved remarkable milestones, including becoming China’s first tennis Olympic singles champion this past summer in Paris. Yet Zheng’s aspirations in tennis extend far beyond what she has already accomplished; countless Chinese fans believe that it is only a matter of time before she becomes a Grand Slam champion.
As one of the most prominent athletes in China today, Zheng is at the forefront of a renewed interest in tennis across the nation, successfully helping the sport gain widespread attention. Notably, compared to the surprises brought by Li Ting and Sun Tiantian’s gold medal in women’s doubles at the Athens Olympics 20 years ago, or Li Na’s two Grand Slam singles titles from 2011 to 2014, the current explosion of interest in Chinese tennis has the potential to transition from a quantitative to a qualitative change.
The patriotic, hardworking, confident, and sunny image of Chinese athletes has attracted significant attention from the public. After the conclusion of this year’s final Grand Slam event, the 2024 US Open, the international tennis scene entered what many are calling the “Chinese season.” Zheng’s victory in Paris and the mixed doubles silver medal won by Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu have significantly boosted the sport’s popularity in China. The three premier events of this season—the China Open, Wuhan Open, and Shanghai Masters—have seen unprecedented levels of attendance.
According to data released by the China Open organizing committee, this year’s event generated ticket sales exceeding 80 million yuan. In the days leading up to the tournament, ticket sales surpassed last year’s entire total, with two days of sales reaching double the previous year’s figures. The overall spectator turnout is expected to be approximately 300,000, with the men’s singles final on October 2 featuring Zheng Qinwen drawing 29,000 attendees, and the Diamond Court reaching full capacity with over 13,000 spectators.
The Shanghai Masters alone attracted over 220,000 attendees, setting a record for attendance in the event’s history. Similarly, the Wuhan Open, held in Zheng’s hometown, was in high demand, with almost all matches experiencing packed stadiums.
As ticket sales soared, Chinese players also achieved remarkable success during the Chinese season. On September 24, 19-year-old Shangle Cheng claimed his first ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open. At the same time, two Chinese players, Zhang Zhizhen and Bu Yunchaokete, met in the men’s singles semifinals at the Hangzhou Open—making it the first time in history that two Chinese players faced each other in an ATP Tour singles semifinal. Following that, at the China Open, Bu Yunchaokete reached the men’s singles semifinals, marking the best performance by a Chinese male player in the history of the event, while Zheng Qinwen also advanced to the women’s singles semifinals, her best finish there.
During the Wuhan Open, Zheng and Wang Xinyu met in the women’s singles semifinals, marking another historic moment for Chinese tennis. Although Zheng was unable to defeat Sabalenka in the finals, her ability to take a set from her rival signals a potential future victory.
This year, Zheng has also excelled by finishing as the runner-up at the Australian Open and clinching the singles title at the Paris Olympics. Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu earned a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Olympics, and Zhang became the first male seed from mainland China at a Grand Slam event. Collectively, these successes during the “Chinese season” have positioned tennis as one of the brightest sports in China.
However, the widespread attention on Chinese tennis goes beyond the athletes’ achievements. Bai Xilin, director of the Tennis Management Center at the General Administration of Sports of China, told reporters that the patriotic, hardworking, confident, and optimistic image of athletes like Zheng is a significant reason for their popularity among the public.
During the Paris Olympics, it wasn’t just Zheng’s tenacity on the court that resonated; it was also her heartfelt expressions: “The flags held by fans are truly beautiful,” and, “This might have been the toughest match of my career. Toward the end, I was running on empty, relying entirely on spirit. I wanted to secure more victories for China,” and, “Although I don’t know what will happen in the finals, I can promise that I will fight until my last breath.” She even stated, “Even if it means playing for my country for three more hours, I would happily do it again.”
Zheng embodies strong patriotism, along with a sense of responsibility and mission, making her a remarkable representative for contemporary Chinese youth. In professional tennis, where individual athletes usually prioritize personal rewards like prize money and rankings, Chinese athletes display a remarkable dedication to national honor.
Bai noted that this sentiment stems from the athletes’ upbringing and the education they receive. He recalled a conversation with Zheng before the Hangzhou Asian Games. After his speech to the athletes, Zheng shared, “I think your statement, ‘Sports are the wars of peace times,’ is spot on, and I will remember it.”
Bai believes this comment signifies Zheng’s understanding of what it means to represent not just herself, but her country on the world stage. When she won the women’s singles title at the Hangzhou Asian Games, she experienced the true essence of national honor. Her immense mental strength at the Paris Olympics, which helped her overcome challenges en route to her championship, also stemmed from her deep national pride.
Bai emphasized that the improvements in China’s national strength have been the primary factor behind the current success in Chinese tennis. This progress has provided athletes with better support, enhanced confidence, and a sense of national pride and responsibility. Additionally, as the country’s capabilities grow, more families can afford to support their children’s pursuit of tennis, allowing more young people to take up the sport.
Amidst the surge of talent in Chinese tennis represented by athletes like Zheng, Wang, Zhang, and Shangle, there have been substantial changes occurring at the grassroots training level. Wang Nanzhu, director of the “Zheng Jie Cup” youth tennis tour, commented that youth talent development in China has gradually shifted from a focus on professional teams to nurturing talent within families over the past two decades.
Looking back on the rapid development of Chinese tennis over the past 20 years, each breakthrough at major tournaments has propelled the sport to greater heights. From the women’s doubles gold medal won by Li Ting and Sun Tiantian at the 2004 Athens Olympics to Zheng Jie’s and Yan Zi’s Grand Slam doubles title, to Li Na’s Grand Slam singles title, and now Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic win, every achievement has attracted more national interest in tennis and increased societal investment in the sport.
Over these years, tennis in China has transformed from a sport with relatively low popularity and competitive levels into one that enjoys considerable popularity and potential.
According to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the global tennis playing population reached 87.18 million in 2021, with China placing second in global participation at 19.92 million, representing 22.9% of the total. Moreover, China ranks second in the number of tennis courts, with 49,767 courts available.
However, tennis in China currently faces a high cost barrier. Families typically spend several hundred thousand yuan a year on their child’s tennis training.
To address this, the Chinese Tennis Association is pushing for a “Little Tennis” initiative, aimed at lowering participation and cost barriers so that more children have the opportunity to engage in the sport.
It is often said that China excels in racket sports like table tennis and badminton, both in terms of popularity and competitive levels. Tennis, as another net-based sport, has every reason to become another area of strength for the country.
Additionally, unlike some individual sports, tennis holds a significant place within the global sporting community, enabling Chinese athletes’ achievements and images to serve as impactful representations of China worldwide. Bai is confident that despite tennis being a minor sport, its contributions to Chinese athletics are far from insignificant.
