In recent years, tennis has emerged as one of the most prolific sports in China, on both a professional and amateur level. 

This can be credited to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the relatively new emergence of high ranked players throughout Asia, and China's investments in the grassroots of tennis.

Only within the past 10 years have Chinese tennis players rose to prominence. The success of tennis stars like now-retired Li Na, ranked second in the 2014 WTA, Xu Shilin, and Zhang Ze spur the growth of tennis in China. But China's love and pride in tennis extends past professional players by offering non-profit training programs, like "Swing For The Stars" for children.

Internationally, China is becoming more involved in the tennis community by hosting three Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour tournaments. This year these tournaments, each of different ranking, will take place in Fall during the three-week Asian Swing that begins Sept 28 with the Shenzhen Open. As the first and only ATP 250 series event in China, the Shenzhen Open boasts 44 matches on 30 outdoor courts at the Shenzhen Longgang Sports Center. 

The Swing then continues on with the China Open, an ATP 500 event, opening on Oct. 5 at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing. Since 2013 this event has included the Women's Tennis Association's China Open as well.

The tour then wraps up with the Shanghai Rolex Masters, taking place Oct. 10-18 at the spectacular lotus shaped Qi Zhong Stadium. This is the eighth out of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events and is the only one of its kind to be played in Asia. 

With tennis in its golden years, there's no better time to visit China and experience the growth and passion of this spectacular sport. And of course Imperial Tours is able to obtain VIP access to these events, so contact us and let's get swinging.