Higher stakes lure more pros to Zhuhai Tennis Open

An increased prize pool of $135,000 has attracted more than 120 international aces to the 2018 Zhuhai Tennis Open at the Hengqin International Tennis Center.

Competitions began on March 3 with Denisa Allertova, a Czech player, leading the women's field. Allertova earned last year's women's singles trophy and made the Final 16 of the Australian Open 2018.

Liu Fangzhou from Tianjin and 2017 runner-up Zheng Saisai of Shaanxi Province also headline the women's event. The price money for the ladies now totals $60,000, according to organizer Huafa Sports.

Australian players John Millman with career-high singles ranking of world #60 in May 2016 and Jordan Thompson whose best ranking as world #63 was achieved in February 2017 have teamed up. Another formidable duo are Zhang Ze and Wu Di who have made many of appearances in Zhuhai.

The gentlemen champions will be allocated $75,000.

First-day match [Photo courtesy sohu.com]

Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) players had some riveting matches on the first day of the tournament. Bai Yan of Nanjing and He Yecong of Zhejiang Province -- part of China's eight-member lineup -- competed for a coveted men's singles wildcard. Only He and Xia Zihao, however, qualified for the second round. He's second-day match against Russian Ronald Slobodchikov proved to be just as exciting as the battle between Xia and Lee Kuan-Yi from Taipei, Taiwan.

Highly anticipated are the more-intense competitions that started after March 4 as both ATP players and those from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) duked it out. March 11 is the final day.

Players were treated with sweet dumplings (tangyuan) in celebration of Lantern Festival on March 2. Overseas pros experienced folk arts through papercutting for window decorations. Female players are promised a secret gift from the organizing committee on March 8, which is International Women's Day.

The Zhuhai Tennis Open is a professional competition held annually since 2015 as part of the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Women's Circuit. Backed by Hengqin New Area, it is sponsored by the Chinese Tennis Association and the Zhuhai Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau with Huafa Group responsible for organization.  

Now in its fourth year, the increasingly popular tournament has joined the WTA Elite Trophy to become yet another influential brand hosted by the sporting magnet of Zhuhai.