Tennis Becoming More Popular In China

Written by: Staff on 11th October 2012

Tennis Becoming More Popular In China

epa03423222 Li Na of China returns against Maria Sharapova of Russia during their semi-final match at the China Open in Beijing, China, 06 October 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

The tournament director of the Shanghai Masters, Michael Luevano, says that the popularity of tennis in China has risen dramatically over the past few years.

“I’ve seen an amazing thing actually in that time frame of 17 years and the growth of tennis and the positioning of tennis has been the most pleasing,” he told CRI. The only thing I can compare it to probably is basketball, which obviously when [basketball player] Yao Ming became a global super star you saw the sport go beyond anyone’s expectations. Two years ago when Li Na won the French Open you saw the same similar spike in the interest of the sport.”

Luevano estimates there are some 50 million Chinese play tennis, or at least interested in the sport. China’s population is 1.34 billion.

China Central Television says that tennis is now the third most popular sport it broadcasts, behind only soccer and basketball. There are various estimates on how many courts there are in the country, but one estimate says there are around 30,000.

The Chinese government is said to be a major investor in the Shanghai Masters. “In the late 90s when we started with the Heineken Open and I remember having to bus in students from schools and bringing in the Chinese military to sit in the bleachers to watch the tennis to doing you know 120,000 paid spectators over 8 days,” Luevano said. You know we’re not giving away tickets anymore.”

The Chinese government has been increasing investment into tennis through public and private companies, as well as creating amateur development programs and introducing the sport in schools. Having Grand Slam champions like Li Na hasn’t hurt either in drawing attention to the sport.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: China Tennis news, Chinese tennis news, Li Na, Shanghai Masters 2012, Sports