Chinese tennis experienced a historic and transformative year in 2024, marked by Zheng Qinwen's Olympic gold, rising stars like Shang Juncheng and Zhang Zhizhen breaking new ground, and surging popularity in both fan engagement and player development across the nation.
by sportswriters Gao Meng, Li Bowen, Li Chunyu
KUNMING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- As 2024 comes to a close, the tennis court memories linger vividly in many Chinese minds, with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games standing as a pivotal milestone.
On Aug. 3, 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen lay sprawled on the clay of the Philippe-Chatrier Court at Roland Garros, her arms outstretched in celebration of a monumental victory. By defeating Croatia's Donna Vekic in straight sets, she etched her name in history as the first Chinese tennis athlete to win a singles Olympic gold medal.
This triumph represented a personal highlight for Zheng and also marked a significant leap for Chinese tennis on the global stage.
Furthermore, the Chinese pair of Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu clinched a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics, further fueling the "tennis fever" in China.
The Olympic medals are a testament to the soaring popularity of tennis in China. From the breakthrough victories of Chinese athletes in various tournaments to the rapid growth of the tennis education and training industry, the "tennis fever" is taking strong momentum in the country. Many believe that Chinese tennis has embarked on a new golden era.
"I fight whatever happens on the court. If you always keep going, you will get your chance. I tried to reach the top and then remain there," Zheng said after her WTA Finals debut. "It's a great season for me."
Besides her Olympic glory, Zheng also finished runner-up at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and secured multiple tournament titles.
Shang Juncheng, the 19-year-old rising star, made history by winning his maiden ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open. As the first male tennis player born after 2005 to claim an ATP title, he also reached the semifinals of ATP Tour events in Hong Kong and Atlanta, positioning himself in the Top 50 in the ATP rankings.
"This year has been a treasure trove of learning and experiences for me. It's not about avoiding challenges or lowering my training standards, but about managing my expectations and enjoying the passion of the spectators, cherishing everyone's presence," Shang reflected.
Zhang Zhizhen became the first player from mainland China to be seeded in the men's singles in a Grand Slam event at Wimbledon. In July, he achieved his highest career ranking. Alongside Bu Yunchaokete, he made history at the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open by setting up an all-Chinese final.
"I aspire to sustain my tennis career while raising the bar and then let the younger players chase and surpass me. That would be the ultimate achievement," Zhang expressed his hopes for the future generation of Chinese players.
Bu Yunchaokete stunned world No. 6 Alexander Zverev at the China Open, propelling himself into the top 100 of the ATP rankings. This marked the first time that three male players from mainland China - Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng, and Bu Yunchaokete - simultaneously ranked in the top 100.
"I think we are seeing the momentum take off now for these Chinese players as they inspire other younger players with the confidence to know they too can compete and win at the top levels of the sport. This is a real tipping point for the sport of tennis in China," said Alison Lee, ATP executive vice president for international region.
Moreover, the influx of Chinese players into the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments underscores the enhanced overall strength of Chinese tennis athletes. These breakthroughs are not flukes but the culmination of long-term work.
These accomplishments also ignited the passion of a new generation of players and fans within the country.
Jin Cheng, a young tennis player from Beijing, observed the recent transformations in the tennis training landscape: "Over the past year, there has been a surge of foreign coaches in Beijing, offering more options and a significantly improved environment. It feels like overnight, there's been an influx of young children eager to play tennis."
16-year-old tennis player Wang Zicong drew inspiration from the breakthroughs of his fellow Chinese players. With his father's support, Wang began participating in International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments this year.
"With players like Zheng Qinwen, Shang Juncheng, and Zhang Zhizhen reaching the top, it's as if the barriers for Chinese players have been lifted. Their emergence has opened up endless possibilities for Chinese young tennis athletes," Wang's father said.
The "tennis fever" in China is evident through the soaring popularity on social media and the box office success of tennis events as well.
A survey reveals that in the first half of this year, views of tennis tutorial videos on video-sharing platforms surged by 107%, and tennis-related video views increased by over 260%. Following Zheng Qinwen's Olympic gold medal feat, the search index trend for "tennis" on the video-sharing platform "Douyin" skyrocketed by 545%.
At the same time, there is a growing appetite for attending live matches. During the China season this year, open tournament box offices repeatedly set new records.
The China Open alone attracted nearly 300,000 spectators, marking a 50% increase from the previous year, with total ticket revenue exceeding 80 million yuan (about 11.3 million U.S. dollars), setting a new benchmark.
Despite inclement weather, over 220,000 fans flocked to the Shanghai Masters during the National Day holiday. Merchandise sales also reached unprecedented heights, with daily revenues surpassing one million yuan during the first week.
"Top athletes have immense value in promoting the sport globally. This year's rise of Chinese tennis players has provided strong positive feedback, benefiting both the competitive performance and education sectors," added Wang Xueli, Director of the Center for Development of Sports Industry at Tsinghua University. ■