Tennis Rises in China
Tennis has grown in popularity in China since The ATP Tennis Masters Cup was first played in Shanghai in 2002. As China has experienced economic growth, the rising middle has considered playing tennis as a way to increase social standing, as well as a family sport. In addition, the emergence of tennis stars from other parts of Asia, as well as the addition of tennis as a medal sport in the Beijing Olympics have contributed to the rise of the
sport. The ITF has also invested in building the game in China. Chinese women such as Li Na and Jie Zheng have made the biggest impact on the international tennis scene so far, but it’s hard to believe that Chinese men won’t be moving into the top 100 sometime soon. In 2009, there will be a major combined men’s and women’s tournament in Beijing, as well as a top level ATP tournament in Shanghai. In the past several years, China has built three major tennis complexes. The striking Qi Zhong stadium featuring an eight-“petaled” retractable roof that opens up like a magnolia flower (Shanghai’s city flower) was built to host the ATP Tennis Masters Cup starting in 2005. It holds 15,000 tennis fans and will host an ATP 1000 event in 2009 when the ATP Tennis Masters Cup moves to London. The other major tennis complexes are the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing and the Beijing Tennis Center. Former American tennis star, Michael Chang, who is of Chinese descent, recently opened the Michael Chang Mission Hills Tennis Academy in Shenzhen. The tennis academy has 50 courts to train junior tennis players. All of these investments in tournaments, training and tennis complexes are bound to pay off for Chinese tennis in the future. By the 2012 Olympics at Wimbledon, there will most likely Chinese men, as well as women competing for medals.
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