On October 29, Beijing time, the 2023 Huafa Technology Zhuhai WTA Super Elite Tournament came to a successful conclusion in the golden autumn season. The tournament was hosted by the Chinese Tennis Association and the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, undertaken by Huafa Group, and operated and implemented by Huafa Sports, a subsidiary of Huafa Modern Service Sector. Over the course of six days, the tournament presented an addictive tennis feast for fans in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and around the world.

As the final leg of this year's China season, the WTA Super Classic in Zhuhai, now in its sixth year, showcased a number of highlights. A luxurious lineup of elite singles and doubles players guarantees a high level of excitement in every matchup. Zheng Qinwen and Zhu Lin "Double Golden Flower" played together and met in the semi-finals of the women's singles, which made every audience's heart surge with passion. Amid the cheers and shouts of the audience, the event ushered in a climax on the closing day, leaving a unique experience for many witnesses.

Brazil's Maya won the tournament's double title, beating China's Zheng Qinwen 7-6(11)/7-6(4) in the Women's Singles final, and then beating Sugardi/Miwei Kato 6-3/6-3 in the Women's Doubles final.

Bai Xilin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Tennis Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese Tennis Association, Li Chong, Deputy Mayor of Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, Su Kun, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Wang Lingping, Deputy Secretary-General of the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, Huang Yujie, Director of the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Lin Xiaojun, Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, Guo Jin, Deputy General Manager of Zhuhai Huafa Group Co., Ltd., Feng Xia, Assistant to the President of Zhuhai Huafa Modern Service Investment Holding Co., Ltd., Lv Pinde, Executive Director and General Manager of Zhuhai Huafa Sports Operation Management Co., Ltd., and Pam Whytcross, Event Supervisor of the 2023 Huafa Technology Zhuhai WTA Super Classic Tournament, attended the award ceremony and presented awards to the winning athletes.

After a month, Hengqin International Tennis Center once again ushered in the world's top tennis tournament. The ATP Zhuhai Tennis Championship and the Zhuhai WTA Super Classic just make up the impressive start and end of the China season of the tour, making "Love tennis, come to Zhuhai!" The loud slogan is more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

This year marks the sixth year of the WTA Super Classic in Zhuhai, and the total prize money of the tournament has further increased to a record high of US$2.6 million, a record high, which fully reflects Zhuhai's welcome and commitment to all participating players. Like the previous five tournaments, this year's WTA Super Classic in Zhuhai continues to feature the top singles and doubles players in tennis. In singles, led by the top seed and former French Open champion Krejcikova, all international elite players joined the lineup, relying on Zheng Qinwen, who was shortlisted in their own rankings, and Zhu Lin, who participated with a wild card, appeared in Zhuhai together, and the Zhuhai WTA Super Classic has once again appeared in the singles lineup of "double golden flowers" since 2018 (Wang Qiang, Zhang Shuai). In the doubles, Maya/Kudermetova were the top seeds, with Jiang Xinyu/Tang Qianhui and Wang Xiyu/Xu Yifan coming in from the Chinese pair.

Krejcikova

Zhu Lin

Judging from the process of the event, China Jinhua has become the "absolute protagonist" of this year's Zhuhai WTA Super Elite Tournament. Zheng Qinwen and Zhu Lin both broke through from their respective groups and met in the semi-finals, creating the best record achieved by a Chinese singles player in six tournaments. During the six-day period, the sound of "cheering" in the Hengqin International Tennis Center came and went, showing a moving court scenery in autumn.

Off the field, the tournament also produced a number of memorable moments. In addition to the game, the players explored Zhuhai and experienced the diversity and romance of the city. They also appeared in autograph sessions and meet-and-greets, perfectly showing the affinity of top players; At the players' party before the start of the game, the elites of the stadium took off their "uniforms" and changed into gorgeous clothes, leaving their most beautiful and moving side in Zhuhai.

Zheng Qinwen, who will enter the women's singles final all the way this week, expressed his gratitude to the home fans for their enthusiastic and orderly encouragement and cheering many times after the match. After beating Vekic in the opening game of the group stage, she admitted that it was the support of the home crowd that helped her boost her morale from behind and win a crucial start.

This rare "two-way running" is the fruitful fruit of Zhuhai's years of taking root in the field of tennis events. Since the completion of the Hengqin International Tennis Center, a series of professional tournaments have been held here, including the Zhuhai WTA Super Classic, the Zhuhai Tennis Championship, the ITF International Women's Tennis Tour, the International Professional Men's Tennis Challenge, and the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wild Card Tournament. The comprehensive and multi-level continuous competition will integrate tennis into Zhuhai's urban genes, become a part of urban life, and integrate into the city's bloodline. For many citizens of Zhuhai and even the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, going to the Hengqin International Tennis Center to watch a tennis match is no longer a strange and novel experience, but has become a daily leisure way.

With such a group of spectators who are already familiar with the rules and etiquette of tennis, the players can feel more positive power from their enthusiastic support and achieve a better and better game. As the WTA Super Classic Zhuhai enters its sixth year, a valuable positive cycle has developed between fans and players.

Co-Tournament Directors Brenda Perry and Mily Li said: "After five years of accumulation, the tournament is back after four years, and the 2023 Zhuhai WTA Super Classic has achieved world-class standards in terms of competition organization, player services, media promotion, etc. Coupled with the addition of two Chinese players to the singles lineup, Zheng Qinwen advanced to the finals, and the box office of the event soared, and the semifinals and finals were full. As a member of the tournament operation team, we are pleased and proud to present such a high-level international professional women's event. ”

A local Zhuhai fan interviewed at the scene said: "In the past three years, we have not been able to watch the WTA events live, and as Zhuhai locals, we must come to the event at our doorstep. Compared with previous editions, the level of the event is as high as ever, and there are also Chinese players participating, so everyone can cheer for them to their heart's content. Compared to watching the game on TV, the feeling of watching the game live is really fantastic! ”

In the past six years of the WTA Super Classic in Zhuhai, this tournament has not only brought high-level tennis duels to tennis fans, but also witnessed the glory and rise of many top tennis stars. It's the stage for legendary players, with tennis greats such as Serena Williams and Kvitova showcasing their style. This is the cradle of Grand Slam champions and world No. 1, and the now retired Australia star Barty, the current world No. 1 Sabalenka and other "queen" level players have gradually reached the top of tennis after reaching the top of Zhuhai; It is also a blessed land for Chinese players, and two "golden flowers" of Wang Qiang and Zheng Qinwen have reached the finals in the six tournaments, injecting infinite energy into the development of Chinese tennis.

Wang Qiang

Zheng Qinwen

The successful holding of the 2023 Huafa Technology Zhuhai WTA Super Elite Tournament also coincides with the second anniversary of the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, witnessing the leapfrog development of this region. As an important member of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Zhuhai has made full use of the WTA Super Elite as an international event platform to demonstrate its unique geographical advantages and economic vitality, effectively promote exchanges and cooperation in sports, culture and economy in the Greater Bay Area, and strengthen the integration and co-creation between Zhuhai and Hong Kong and Macao.

As the organizer of the Zhuhai WTA Super Elite Tournament, Huafa Group actively responds to the national strategy, with high-level event organization capabilities and rich operational experience, by holding high-quality events and planning city marketing activities, to promote Zhuhai's city card as a "tennis city", and help Zhuhai's influence on the international stage to further expand. In addition, the holding of international events such as the Zhuhai WTA Super Classic has not only promoted the take-off of Zhuhai's tourism, hotel, catering and other industries, but also promoted the comprehensive upgrading of Zhuhai's cultural and sports undertakings, so that Zhuhai has established a positive and vibrant city image on a global scale, and the city's soft power has been greatly enhanced.

In the past six years, Zhuhai has become different because of tennis. Looking forward to the future, in Zhuhai, the only Chinese city besides Beijing, which has both ATP and WTA top tennis tournaments, Huafa Group will continue to uphold the original intention of "Love Tennis, Come to Zhuhai", light up the development of tennis in Zhuhai, promote the vigorous development of culture, tourism and sports industries in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, further enhance Zhuhai's international popularity and city attractiveness, and bring broader development space and infinite possibilities to the city.

With the 2023 Huafa Technology Zhuhai WTA Super Classic coming to an end, we once again witnessed the indissoluble love between tennis and Zhuhai. The sixth year of the event not only inherits the glory of the "first five years", but also opens a wonderful chapter in the future. We believe that this will be a new starting point and look forward to more exciting moments on the court of Hengqin International Tennis Center.