Excitement fills the grounds as fans welcome the China Open

There was a noticeable energy across the sprawling grounds as the doors opened for the 2026 China Open. 

Tennis enthusiasts smiled and laughed as they waited in lines to enter matches, tournament vendors welcomed fans into their booths and even a local clown added to the festive atmosphere. 

Hou Hongbiao, who makes balloon animals at the tournament, is working the China Open for the first time. 

“People are very nice, and everyone is so excited,” Hou said.

Since Zheng Qinwen’s 2024 Olympic gold medal victory, tennis’ popularity has grown immensely in China. The China Open is the only tennis tournament in the Asian Swing that includes both men and women, creating a special environment for tennis fans. 

“Although it’s not a Grand Slam like the French Open, it’s a tennis tournament with great influence in China, and even across Asia,” said Beijing native and fan He Yubei.  

The 2025 China Open welcomed a record 360,000 fans through the gates, and this year’s tournament organizers target 400,000 fans. 

Sun Fei, a local resident of Beijing and tennis enthusiast, bought tickets to four days of this year’s China Open.

“I think the atmosphere at the China Open in Beijing is quite strong,” Sun said. “I’ve also been to the Shanghai Masters, and, over the past two years, I’ve felt that the atmosphere at tennis events in China are very lively.”

Across the tournament grounds, as matches began and fans poured through the gates, the love of the game was everywhere.

“My first reaction was how excited the fans were,” Sun said after watching Zheng Qinwen warm up as fans snapped photos of their idol.

Along with the matches, fans can interact with a variety of brands throughout the China Open grounds. Tennis fans can collect three Topps Tennis cards by joining a WeChat group, while Luckin Coffee offers souvenirs including a tennis-themed keychain and photo booth strips. The FILA lounge offers a large viewing screen and comfortable seating, giving fans another way to take in the action.

For fans, the China Open is more than a chance to watch some of the sport’s biggest stars. From the matches to the fan experiences throughout the grounds, the tournament has become a celebration of tennis in a country where the sport continues to grow.

By Dominic Achille, Emerson Chaloux, Sierra Hanson, Lainey Hogg, Yanxi Liang, Maya Sabapathy and Yiwei Zhao