Back in the swing

"I've had sort of regrets the first two times competing in the final in Macao. Maybe third time is the charm. I am relieved and proud that I finally nailed it at the third attempt. This trophy will for sure motivate me to go for more glory next year," said the native of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Earlier on Sunday, top-seeded pair Guo Hanyu and Jiang Xinyu defeated You Xiaodi and Tang Qianhui to claim the women's doubles crown before unheralded duo Wang Aoran and Xiao Lin'ang came back from a set down to stun men's doubles favorites Terigele and Buyunchaokete 3-1, avenging a group-stage loss to their rivals.

Launched by the CTA in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour comprises four tiers of events — topped by the pro-only 1,000 category — and concludes each season with a national championship that adopts a similar format to the year-ending finals on the ATP and WTA tours.

Organized by the sport's national governing body, Macao's sports bureau and the special administrative region's government, the tour finals offer the biggest purse of the year, which easily eclipses most of the financial rewards offered at the entry-level tournaments on the International Tennis Federation's pro circuit.

Boasting world-class facilities at Macao Tennis Academy and five-star accommodation at the Grand Lisboa Palace, the tournament cemented its status as the players' favorite event on the CTA Tour, with the country's best savoring their enjoyable experiences on and off the court in the southern city.

"Everything here was so well-organized and the facilities are just top notch. The operation was smooth and professional," said Wang Qiang, a two-time WTA singles title winner, who was competing in Macao for the first time.

"I think having already run a lot of events on the pro circuits, Chinese organizers are fully capable of organizing tennis tournaments up to international standards, and the Macao finals this year provided more proof of that."

Two-time major winner Li Na made her third straight trip to the city to take part in a series of promotional and youth exchange events, adding more Grand Slam luster to the tournament.

As a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, Li Na held a tennis clinic together with men's player Li Zhe and eventual women's doubles winner Guo on Dec 6 at Macao Tennis Academy, where they taught Special Olympic athletes from the city fundamental skills, signed autographs and shared their inspirational stories to make it an unforgettable experience for participants.

As one of the greatest players Asia has ever produced, Li Na also spoke about life as a tennis pro with local youth in Macao during the "Dialogues with Outstanding Athletes" on the sidelines of the finals.

"The tournament has been improving annually, while providing more and more young players to get to know Macao as a dynamic sports city," said Li.

Hosting the elite tournament, as well as a variety of promotional events, for three years has significantly enhanced Macao's image as an attractive tennis destination, said Ng Ioc-leng, president of the Macao Tennis Association.

"It really helps to enlighten young people in Macao about tennis, so they can watch and learn from the country's best on their doorsteps," Ng said.

"To have stars such as Wang Qiang and Li Na here is definitely a boon for us to promote tennis in Macao. It's a worthwhile experience for every spectator for sure," she said.

With Macao to co-host the 2025 National Games together with Hong Kong and cities in Guangdong province, the SAR government, sports authorities and promotional partners will keep bidding for more major sporting events while expanding grassroots activities to further build on the momentum.

Already a hot tourism destination thanks to its vast array of high-end hotels, local delicacies, historical sites and sightseeing spots, Macao is enhancing its global appeal by adding sports entertainment to its portfolio, exemplified by events such as the CTA Tour Finals and the renowned Macao Grand Prix motor racing festival.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn