First Open Day in China Open: Watch Grand Slam champions, experience new campus

With its inaugural tournament in 2004, the China Open will celebrate its 20th anniversary this autumn. As the only comprehensive tennis event which jointly organizes men’s and women’s professional tennis tournament in Asia, the China Open has held countless exciting matches with innumerable unforgettable moments, carrying many beautiful memories for tennis fans.

After four years, the China Open has strongly come back with full sincerity. It will hold the first two open days on September 26 and 27. Tennis fans can log in to the China Open ticketing Wechat mini-program to receive entrance tickets.

Star-studded ATP 500 entry list with grand slam champion playing qualifiers

As the first prestigious tournament following the US Open, the 2023 China Open has attracted the world’s top male and female players. Out of the ATP top ten players in the world, nine of them will attend the tournament. The qualifying matches scheduled on September 26 and 27 also feature a star-studded lineup with former world No.1 Andy Murray, former US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori, as well as the new US Open semi-finalist, Ben Shelton. “I didn’t actually get into the Beijing tournament. It was ridiculously strong. I think the cutoff was like 23 or something, which I have never seen before.” Murray helplessly said at the 2023 US Open press conference. In addition to the splendid qualifier, the main draw that fans are most concerned about will also be announced on the Open Day.

Quite different from the moment you enter

The China Open, after a long absence, is still based at the Beijing National Tennis Center. During the National Day holiday, there will be heavy traffic, so it is recommended to choose green transportation. If taking the subway, you can get off at Lin Cuiqiao Station on Line 8 and take the C2 exit, which is less than a minute away from the entrance to the park. If traveling by car, there are changes to the entrance this year. The entrance is now the south gate instead of the previous west gate, reducing congestion and providing a more comfortable route within the park. For parking, you can choose the South Gate West Parking Lot of the Olympic forest park   (approximately 700 parking spaces), the North Gate West Parking Lot (approximately 420 parking spaces), the underground parking lot of the National Speed Skating Hall North Gate (approximately 300 parking spaces), and the above-ground parking lot (approximately 300 parking spaces, not open from October 1 to 3). You can search for “ National Tennis Center” on the map to find the parking options.

Fans are required to present their ID cards for entry (electronic tickets are introduced for the first time this year, so remember to bind the identity information on the phone before entering). The first thing they will see upon entering is the sponsor exhibition area, which plays a significant role in supporting the successful hosting of the event. Here, they can experience fun and exciting sponsor activities, with the chance to win small prizes, and occasionally even encounter star players.

Passing through the sponsor exhibition area, fans will come across the newly built dining complex. As the biggest project of China Open in recent years, it provides higher dining quality and a better dining experience, with delicious food and comfortable resting areas.

Continuing along the dining complex, fans will reach the familiar C Court, also known as the Competition Court. The early rounds of the men’s and women’s matches are scheduled here, and players also train here regularly. On the left-hand side are the Diamond Court and Brad Court, and on the right-hand side are the Lotus Court, the Moon Court as well as and P Court, which is the Practice Court exclusively for player training.

The new layout saves fans from traveling long distances between multiple courts, making it easier for everyone to watch matches and training. For training schedules, fans can obtain the latest information through the official Weibo and WeChat accounts of China Open.

Schedule for the tournament and the qualifiers also have surprises

The qualifying matches for the men’s singles will start on September 26, and the qualifying matches for the women’s singles will start on September 29. However, players usually arrive earlier to adapt to the courts, so starting from September 26, fans can come and watch the training sessions of the top players, which is a great opportunity to take photos with the players.

As for the main tournament, from September 26 to 29, the focus will be on the men’s singles, with the top ATP players competing on September 28 and 29. The intense competition in the women’s singles will join in on September 30. The packed schedule of both men’s and women’s matches will allow fans to have a more comprehensive understanding of professional tennis. After the men’s singles final on October 4, there will be four days of women’s singles matches, which is the grand finale of the WTA 1000 tournament.

In addition to the above, this year’s China Open has also introduced many science and technology elements. For example, China open has become the first tournament in Asia to adopt electronic line calling. Partnered with Migu Video to launch the Migu Diamond Metaverse, China Open also provides fans with different viewing angles and immersive tennis experiences. Many fans have also received digital collectibles, and you can also see the physical versions at the souvenir shop.