Beijing gives rise to the game of tennis

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The 14th edition of China Open tennis championship, viewed as the most significant combined tournament in Asia, concluded on Sunday.

It is seen as a quality event that is helping improve the popularity and international influence of the game.

Launched in 2004, the China Open is now regarded as one of the biggest non-majors on the tennis circuit that have engendered the game not only in China but also in Asia.

Chen Ran, a media professional associated with CGTN Digital sees the tournament “beyond championships.”

“A championship is usually about winning, but it is more important to see as to how people get involved,” she said.

Li Na of China holds her trophy after winning the women's singles final against Kim Clijsters of Belgium at the Sydney International tennis tournament January 14, 2011. /Reuters Photo

Chen reported on the inaugural China Open in 2004, where she met the Chinese female tennis player Li Na, who Chen said was not famous at the time. Even the sport itself was not that popular in China 14 years ago.

The rise

Li later become a star and won two Grand Slam titles – French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014.

Shortly after Li retired, Peng Shuai reached the 2014 US Open semi-finals while Zhang Shuai claimed her second Guangzhou Open title this year.

The China Open was the starting point that gave rise to the game in this country, Chen said.

“I covered the China Open again in 2006 and interviewed many tennis players, all of whom shared a view that the event was gaining a momentum,” she added.

China's Peng Shuai plays against France's Caroline Garcia. /Reuters Photo

In the same year, the China Open became the first tournament other than the US Open to use the Hawk-Eye system.

Chen's views are reflected through the engagement of the local and foreign fans as well as the participation of international tennis players in the latest edition of the game.

As a sporting event, the China Open has drawn tens of thousands of fans. The 14th edition swung into action on September 30 at the National Tennis Center, the venue for the tennis matches of the Beijing Olympics where it was moved in 2009, featuring a glittering cast of six current or former world number ones and 10 Grand Slam champions, including Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova. They battled for a share of the 9.41 million US dollar prize.

Wang Qiang, veteran Peng Shuai, and rising star Zhang Shuai, who made the third round in both the US and the French Opens this year, as well as the Australian quarterfinals in 2016, represented China.

While it was a World Tour 500 competition for the men, for the women it was a mandatory premier event.

Big Wins and ranking effect

World number one Nadal defeated Nick Kyrgios in the final to win his sixth title of the season. The Spaniard previously won the title in 2005.

Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the trophy after winning the match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia. /Reuters Photo

The French and US Open winner won nine games in a row on his way to reclaiming the trophy.

In the women's draw, all eyes were on the five-time major champion and the 2014 winner of the event Sharapova. It was her first appearance at an Asian tournament since returning from a drug suspension in April. But she lost to Romania’s Simona Halep in the third round.

France's Caroline Garcia beat new world number one Halep to claim the title.

It was Garcia’s second title in China. She won the autumn's other big event in Wuhan, China a week ago.

Halep moved to the top of the world rankings following her semi-final victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday.

Caroline Garcia of France kisses the trophy after winning the match against Simona Halep of Romania. /Reuters Photo

Top seeds Yung-Jan Chan and Martina Hingis triumphed with the doubles title.

The players’ take

Nadal said he was excited to win the title again.

“In 2005, when I was here, I never thought in 2017 I’m gonna be still playing tennis here. Very happy to be here again and very happy with the title, I want to say thank you very much to Beijing,” he said after winning the title.

He stated that it was a crucial victory for him.

Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return to Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia during their first round match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on September 30, 2017. /AFP Photo

Caroline Garcia said she didn't expect when she arrived in China that she would go back with two trophies.

“Just want to thank all the fans who came to China, nice to see more and more fans, and it's very nice for us to come and play here,” she said while holding the trophy and sharing her views, adding that the event provided “great memories that will last for forever.”

“Whenever I play in Beijing, my 'SharaFamily' always shows me such great support,” said Sharapova.

"I will never forget the last time I won the title in 2014, and how much they cheered for me on the Diamond Court," Sharapova was quoted by China Daily as saying.

Closer neighbors

China Open 2017 gave Chinese, Indian and Pakistani fans an opportunity to cheer together for the Indo-Chinese pair of Sania Mirza and Peng Shuai.

The duo cruised into the semifinals, beating the Czech duo - Barbora Strycova and Katerina Siniakov - in the quarterfinals. But they crashed in the semifinals.

India's Sania Mirza (left) and Shuai Peng of China during their China Open match in Beijing. /AFP Photo

Although Mirza is an Indian star, she is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and has a fan-base there too.

"It's been just emphatic. They have organized the tournament so well and made it so spectator friendly," Rituparna Ain, an Indian student in Beijing told CGTN after the match.

“The organizers have been able to create a carnival-like atmosphere with sports lovers and fans coming together to celebrate the game of tennis,” she said.