Stars align for 'unprecedented' turnout at China Open

As Chinese players triumphantly march on at the season's final Grand Slam in New York, their home tournament in Beijing is gearing up for an upgraded feast of tennis in a bid to galvanize the sport's booming popularity.

The China Open, as the largest men's and women's combined tournament in Asia, promises to be bigger and better this year.

On Wednesday, organizers announced the star-studded rosters for the WTA1000 and ATP500 events and a series of experience-enhancing initiatives for the 2024 tournament, which will run from Sept 23-Oct 6 in the Chinese capital.

A total number of 16 Grand Slam winners, led by women's top star Iga Swiatek, men's No 1 Jannik Sinner and young Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz, and nine current and former world No 1s will descend on the National Tennis Center in northern Beijing to compete for important ranking points, as well as a share of the $13.14 million prize pot.

The women's tournament, a mandatory event on the WTA Tour, will be expanded into a two-week, 96-draw tournament, up from 64 last year, joining Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome as a fifth top-flight tournament of that size.

On the men's side, the ATP500 tournament is expected to continue serving up above-its-ranks quality as the world's top-5 players — with the exception of 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic — have all confirmed their participation.

On top of the stellar international cast, the highly anticipated return of China's homegrown heroes, following their recent Olympic success in Paris, is expected to draw phenomenal levels of attention and significantly enhance the tournament's appeal, said organizers.

"Among all the star attractions this year, for sure, the strong presence of Chinese athletes will shine the brightest at the 2024 China Open," said tournament director Zhang Junhui on Wednesday.

"We are expecting an unprecedented turnout at this year's tournament, and we are ready to indulge every participant, from players, to fans and media, with better experiences than ever."

The China Open made its debut in the fall of 2004 and benefited from a surprising women's doubles gold medal, won by Li Ting and Sun Tiantian at that year's Athens Games. The tournament is now riding a new, and much stronger, Olympic wave two decades later, inspired by world No 7 Zheng Qinwen's historic singles win at Paris 2024.

"It's good fortune, not only for our tournament's promotion, but also for the fans, to enjoy the sport after celebrating a gold and a silver (in mixed doubles by Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu) at the Olympics, 20 years after the doubles gold in Athens," said Zhang.

"We've already begun to expect bigger achievements in Chinese tennis in the next 20 years."

Zheng, who lost in the first round to Elena Rybakina in Beijing last year, said she cannot wait to back up her elite credentials this year.

"I am very much looking forward to stepping on the Diamond Court (center court) again. Hope to see you all at the China Open," said the 21-year-old Olympic champion.

Spearheaded by Zheng, and men's world No 41 Zhang Zhizhen, five Chinese players have confirmed their participation in the women's and men's main draws directly via ranking, with more wild-card entries to be announced.

Tournament organizers will keep going the extra mile to optimize services and operations to make it an unforgettable experience, not only for the players, but also fans and sponsors, during the two-week event, said Zhang Junhui.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn