Economic News
2026 Rolex Shanghai Masters unveils major upgrades 2026-08-03
The launch ceremony for the 2026 Rolex Shanghai Masters was held at the Portman Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai on July 30, where organizers announced that this year's tournament will take place from Oct 5 to 18 at Qizhong Tennis Center.
Ticket sales opened at noon the same day.
As the only ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the Asia-Pacific region, the Rolex Shanghai Masters will bring together many of the world's top 100 men's singles players, with 1,000 ATP ranking points awarded to the singles champion.
"Players love coming to Shanghai. They always have. For two consecutive years, players have awarded Shanghai the ATP Standards of Excellence recognition," said Alison Lee, executive vice-president of ATP International Group, in a video message.
Zhang Weiyao, deputy general manager of Shanghai Juss Sports & Entertainment Group, introduced a series of enhancements for this year's event, including improvements to the fan experience, venue atmosphere, and ticketing system.
He announced that the inaugural Masters Carnival will run from Oct 1 to 4 during the National Day holiday. For an admission fee of just 60 yuan ($8.87), visitors will receive consumption vouchers of equal value that can be redeemed on-site, effectively making entry free. The carnival will offer fans the opportunity to watch top players train, explore tennis-themed exhibitions and a dedicated tennis museum, and participate in amateur and junior tournaments.
The lawn adjacent to Court 2 will also feature expanded fan amenities, including the pet zone, family activity areas, interactive brand experiences, and a camping-style viewing lounge equipped with large screens.
For the first time, the tournament will extend beyond Qizhong Tennis Center. Beginning Oct 1, a second hub will be established at Suhe MixC World and Fuxin Flour Mill along Suzhou Creek, transforming the waterfront into a citywide gathering place for tennis fans. The men's singles draw will be held at Tianhou Palace in Suhe MixC World on Oct 5.
A more diversified ticketing system has also been introduced to accommodate different audiences. Options include commuter packages with shuttle bus services, two-person packages for dedicated fans, family packages, travel packages combining transportation and accommodation for domestic and international visitors, and joint packages with Shanghai Disneyland and the F1 Chinese Grand Prix.
"One of the things I always enjoy most about coming to Shanghai is seeing the fans," said Roger Federer, the Rolex Shanghai Masters' Icon Athlete, in a video message expressing his enthusiasm for returning to the city. Federer will return to Qizhong on Oct 16 to take part in a celebrity doubles exhibition alongside fellow tennis legends.
Source: China Daily
