'Tennis fever' will sweep through China in 2024

KUNMING – As 2024 draws to a close, memories of the tennis court remain vivid in the minds of many Chinese, with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games serving as a crucial milestone.

On August 3, 21 years old Zheng Qinwen lay stretched out on the clay of the Philippe-Chatrier Court at Roland Garros, her arms outstretched in celebration of a monumental victory. By beating Croatian Donna Vekic in straight sets, she wrote her name into history as the first Chinese tennis athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in singles.

This triumph marked a personal highlight for Zheng and also marked an important leap for Chinese tennis on the world stage.

In addition, the Chinese duo of Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics, further fueling the “tennis fever” in China.

The Olympic medals are a testament to the rising 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 gaining momentum in the country. Many believe that Chinese tennis has entered a new golden era.

“I fight whatever happens on the court. If you always keep going, you will get your chance. I have tried to reach the top and then stay there,” Zheng said after her WTA Finals debut. “It's a great season for me.”

In addition to her Olympic glory, Zheng also finished second at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and won multiple tournament titles.

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Shang Junchengthe 19-year-old rising star, made history by winning his first 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 of the ATP Rankings.

“This year has been a wealth of learning and experience for me. It is not about avoiding challenges or lowering my training standards, but about managing my expectations and enjoying the passion of the spectators, making the presence cherish from everyone,” Shang reflected.

Zhang Zhizhen became the first player from mainland China to be seeded in men's singles at a Grand Slam event at Wimbledon. In July, he achieved his highest career ranking. Together with Bu Yunchaokete, he made history at the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open by setting up an all-Chinese final.

“I aspire to continue 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 hope for the future generation of Chinese players.

Bu Yunchaokete stunned world No. 6 Alexander Zverev at the China Open to propel himself into the top 100 of the ATP rankings. This was the first time that three male players from mainland China, Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng and Bu Yunchaokete, were ranked in the top 100 at the same time.

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“I think we are now seeing momentum building for these Chinese players as they inspire other younger players with the confidence to know that they too can compete and win at the top levels of the sport. This is a real turning point for the sport of tennis in China,” said Alison Lee, ATP executive vice president for the international region.

Furthermore, the influx of Chinese players into the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments underlines the improved overall strength of Chinese tennis athletes. These breakthroughs are not a fluke, but the result of long-term work.

These achievements also ignited the passion of a new generation of players and fans in the country.

Jin Cheng, a young tennis player from Beijing, observed the recent changes 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 is an influx of young children who want to play tennis.”

Tennis player Wang Zicong, 16, was inspired by the breakthroughs of his Chinese fellow players. With the support of his father, Wang began participating in International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments this year.

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“With players like Zheng Qinwen, Shang Juncheng and Zhang Zhizhen reaching the top, it is as if the barriers for Chinese players have been lifted. Their rise has opened up endless possibilities for Chinese young tennis athletes,” said Wang's father.

China's 'tennis fever' is reflected in the rising popularity on social media and the blockbuster success of tennis events.

A study shows that in the first half of this year, the number of views of tennis instructional videos on video sharing platforms increased by 107 percent, and the number of tennis-related videos increased by more than 260 percent. After Zheng Qinwen's Olympic gold medal, the search index trend for “tennis” on the video sharing platform “Douyin” increased by 545 percent.

At the same time, interest in attending live matches is growing. During this year's Chinese season, open tournament box offices have repeatedly set new records.

The China Open alone attracted nearly 300,000 spectators, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, with total ticket revenue exceeding 80 million yuan ($11.3 million), setting a new benchmark.

Despite the bad weather, more than 220,000 fans attended the Shanghai masters during the national holiday. Merchandise sales also reached unprecedented heights, with daily sales exceeding one million yuan in the first week.

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“Top athletes have enormous value in promoting the sport worldwide. The emergence of Chinese tennis players this year has generated strong positive feedback, which benefits both competitive performance and the education sector,” said Wang Xueli, director of the Center for Development of Sports Industry in Tsinghua. University.