Shanghai pulls out all the stops

Masters showcase blends competition and entertainment to give fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience

With sports entertainment embraced by Chinese as a way of life, the Shanghai Rolex Masters offers fans an annual smorgasbord of top-flight tennis and carnival activities to savor.

On Oct 6, the day before the main draw begins at the Qizhong Tennis Center, Asia's only Association of Tennis Professionals 1000 tournament will mark its 10th anniversary by staging a wide range of tennis-themed entertainment, including an on-site gourmet fair and interactive activities with star players.

With a field that includes Swiss great Roger Federer, 14-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia and rising German star Alexander Zverev, the 64-seed singles main draw will kick off on Oct 7 with the world's best competing for the winner's 1000 ranking points and a prize pool of $7.6 million.

To offer fans a taste of what to expect from the galaxy of stars, the tournament's Family Day celebration, title sponsored by local brand Brightdairy, will allow all ticket holders to watch Federer practice his signature singlehand backhand shots on Saturday during the Master Training Camp at the 14,000-seat center court. The 20-time major winner will hit against local children to inspire their interest in the sport.

Launched last year, the Federer-centered training camp has become the most popular off-court activity at the tournament, thanks to the strong connection between the Swiss star and the Shanghai crowd.

Diehard fans will have the opportunity to wander the outdoor training courts throughout the day. With seats just meters away from the playing surface, spectators are sure to get a real-time appreciation of just how fast and accurately the world's best players hit the ball.

To mark the tournament's decade of excellence, organizers are setting up a pavilion on the southwest end of the facility to showcase photo galleries, exhibits and immersive experiences through VR technology.

Fans can also drop postcards carrying their personal messages for the players into the Masters Mailbox, while autograph seekers can try for signatures just outside the player's entrance. If selfies are your thing, former Shanghai Masters champions such as Djokovic and Andy Murray are always available－albeit in the form of racket-wielding terracotta statues just outside the Hospitality Pavilion.

Watching the Shanghai Masters is also a yummy experience, with a wide range of selections including pizza, burgers, salads and delicious Shanghai dim sum available at the food court.

Tickets for the final three days of the tournament have sold out, but some "Super Fan" packages, which provide two-day entry to center court on Wednesday and Thursday, are still available.

According to the tournament's organizing committee, ticket sales have increased 15-30 percent annually, while its television broadcast hours have increased by 200 percent.

"This is tremendous growth fueled by the public's appreciation of tennis and the corporate and local government sectors investing in the sport," said tournament director Michael Luevano.

"We are in a unique and enviable position in this market place."