China Open Sets Records as Zheng Makes History

The 2026 China Open concluded on October 11 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing with record-breaking attendance and box office revenue, organizers announced, capping a milestone 20th edition of the tournament with a historic domestic triumph. According to China News, total spectator admissions were projected to exceed 450,000, up 25 percent year-on-year, while overall box office revenue reached 132 million RMB (1.32亿元), a 48 percent increase that set an all-time high for the event.

The tournament’s centerpiece was Zheng Qinwen, who entered as a wildcard ranked world No. 54 and became the first Chinese woman to win the China Open singles title. Her 7-5, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Mirra Andreeva — the world No. 5 — delivered Zheng her first career WTA 1000 title, a landmark for both the player and a tournament that has spent two decades building toward a breakthrough by a local champion.

A Record-Breaking Fortnight

The scale of the 2026 edition reflected tennis’s rapid rise in popularity in China, accelerated by the National Day “Golden Week” holiday. Organizers said event momentum was deliberately converted into urban consumption vitality. Beyond the headline attendance figure, in-venue merchandise sales reached 28 million RMB, doubling from the previous year, with more than 700 product lines developed alongside 18 partner entities — from collectible toys and cultural creative goods to apparel. The “China Open Zoo” series proved especially popular. Food and beverage operations set up more than 70 dining points, drew in over 50 brands, and configured more than 2,000 outdoor seating spots.

Sponsorship also expanded, with 31 signed sponsors including 10 new and 7 renewed partners. International sponsors accounted for more than half of the total, which organizers framed as evidence of global market recognition for the China Open brand.

Economic Ripple Effects

Citing “Double Olympic 100” event assessment data from the Beijing Sports Bureau, organizers reported that the 2026 China Open generated a direct economic impact of 2.590 billion RMB and an indirect impact of 6.671 billion RMB. Event-period comprehensive consumption was projected to exceed 55 million RMB, up 55 percent year-on-year.

“The China Open is an important window for Beijing to conduct international exchanges and showcase its city image,” said Chen Jie, Executive Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the China Open Organizing Committee, at a pre-event press conference reported by People’s Daily.

Chen also highlighted improvements to player facilities, which were expanded to 7,700 square meters — a 2.5-fold increase over the previous year, reaching Grand Slam standards. The venue added a forest leisure garden, a coaches’ lounge, a professional rehabilitation room, an expanded outdoor warm-up area, and a self-built player vehicle dispatch platform.

‘Chinese Warmth’ and Player Praise

Organizers pointed to positive feedback from international stars as validation of the event’s service quality. Novak Djokovic said playing in Beijing “feels like playing at home,” describing the city as the place where he receives the most support outside his native Serbia. Alexander Zverev called the China Open a “world-class event,” while Mirra Andreeva said she very much hoped to play more matches in Beijing.

“These genuine feelings from the players are both a full affirmation of the event’s service quality and a vivid interpretation of the China Open’s unique ‘Chinese warmth,’” Chen said.

For the first time, the tournament hosted a Global Tennis Dialogue Forum, gathering nearly 40 core management members from the ATP, WTA, Grand Slam tournaments, and global tours to discuss event operations, player development, market expansion, and international collaboration. Cultural programming also featured Chinese aesthetics prominently, including a player gala themed “Windows Reflecting All Things” with woodblock printing, Beijing opera makeup, intangible-heritage sugar painting, and swallow kite stations. Several top stars visited Beijing landmarks including the Summer Palace and the Drum and Bell Tower.

Zheng’s Historic Run

Zheng’s path to the title was built on a seven-match winning streak. She defeated Shi Han, Kalinskaya, Bouzkova, Charaeva, Svitolina, and Mertens before overcoming Andreeva in the final, becoming the first local player to reach — and then win — the China Open women’s singles final, as Guancha reported. In the first set she saved three set points at 5-5 before breaking to take it; in the second she broke at 4-4 and closed out the match from 0-30 down in the deciding game. The Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau sent a congratulatory letter praising her resilience through injuries and a fluctuating ranking.

What to Watch Next

Just one day after her triumph, the story took an unexpected turn. Zheng announced she would withdraw from the Wuhan Open, her home tournament, citing a right shoulder injury and cumulative fatigue from playing the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open in six weeks, according to Guancha. “Wuhan is the cradle where my tennis dream began,” she said, adding that she hoped to return next year at her best. The Wuhan Open said it respected the decision and would announce scheduling adjustments separately.

The withdrawal underscores the physical toll of an increasingly crowded calendar on top players, even as tournament organizers celebrate record engagement. For the China Open, the 2026 edition answered a long-standing question — whether a homegrown champion could headline its success. With attendance, revenue, and a historic title now on the books, the tournament enters its third decade with both commercial momentum and a new benchmark for what a Chinese player can achieve on home soil.