From record-breaking crowds to tickets being resold at double their original price, China is riding a wave of unprecedented enthusiasm for tennis.

This surge in interest comes in the wake of Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic gold medal win — a first for a Chinese player — and her appearance at the 2024 China Open is drawing thousands of fans.

The tournament, which runs from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6 in Beijing, also features top international stars like world No. 1 and US Open champion Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off victories at this year’s French Open and Wimbledon, making it one of the season's most anticipated events.

Wednesday saw a thrilling men’s singles final, with Alcaraz emerging victorious after a gripping, three-and-a-half-hour battle against Sinner. Meanwhile, Zheng took to the court for her first match of the National Day holiday, defeating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. in the fourth round and securing her spot in the quarterfinals. Her next opponent, 17-year-old rising star Mirra Andreeva, promises a tough challenge as the two meet for the first time.

While Zheng’s rise to the quarterfinals is no surprise, her presence has become a cornerstone of China’s growing tennis fervor, particularly her aggressive playing style, making her one of the key draws of the 2024 China Open.

This rising enthusiasm for tennis isn’t limited to the China Open. The upcoming Wuhan Open, from Oct. 5 to 13, is already seeing ticket sales skyrocket, with seats for the finals nearly sold out. Nationwide, interest in tennis is booming, with group-buying orders for lessons and training packages jumping by 172% year-on-year, according to the lifestyle service platform Meituan.

The enthusiasm was evident at the China Open venue, where 29,000 spectators packed the stands. Diamond Court, the tournament’s premier stadium, hosted 13,000 fans with over 95% occupancy.

“The atmosphere was insane. I never thought it would be so full in the center court,” Zheng said in her post-match interview.

Tickets for matches at Diamond Court have completely sold out, and by the fourth day of the event, ticket sales had reached 43.26 million yuan ($6 million), double the revenue from last year, according to the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau.

Ticket prices for the China Open range from 50 to 2,580 yuan, depending on the event and seating. For high-profile matches, night session tickets start at 200 yuan, while finals tickets are priced higher, with the lowest full-day price set at 580 yuan.

Such is the demand for the tournament that tickets are being resold at steep prices on the online marketplace Xianyu. Semifinal and final tickets, advertised as the best chance to see Zheng, are now priced at 1,500 yuan and above — more than three times the original price of 580 yuan.

Pan Jingyi, a 24-year-old teacher from the southern Guangdong province, watched the tournament for the first time during the National Day holiday.

“In the past, you could easily buy tickets on-site without booking in advance, but this year they’re selling out one or two days ahead,” she said. Pan bought her 580 yuan ticket a week early, eager to watch her favorite player, Alcaraz, face off against Sinner in the singles final.

She also managed to catch the men’s doubles final and a match featuring Zheng Qinwen. “I wanted to see Zheng after her Olympic win — she’s an inspiration for Chinese tennis,” Pan added.

According to her, due to delays, it was nearly 10 p.m. by the time Zheng took the court. “The weather was getting cold, but the entire crowd stayed, eager to watch her play. After every point, the cheers grew louder, with most supporting her in unison,” she recalled.

Editor: Apurva.

(Header image: Zheng Qinwen signs autographs for a group of fans during the 2024 China Open in Beijing, Sept. 28, 2024. VCG)