Serving up a masterpiece

"I think a great part of the boom came down to our efforts in trying to improve spectator services, match-day experiences and the facilities at the venue, which we will continue to do in preparation for next year."

More prudent countermeasures on the extreme hot and humid weather conditions, which unexpectedly hit Shanghai this fall, will be discussed with the ATP, and will hopefully be adopted next year, enhancing the experiences of both players and spectators, Yang said.

Other improvements in the years to come will include more flexible ticketing policies, the introduction of more junior and, perhaps, women's events and better integration of tourism.

Drawn by a glittering cast of high-caliber players and legends on and off the court, fervent Chinese fans have left even the most sought-after global stars amazed by the level of support and admiration they provided over the last two weeks in Shanghai.

Djokovic, the fans' favorite among all the international stars, hailed their support as extra motivation for him to fight into the semifinals, despite the apparent physical toll the long season has taken on the 38-year-old.

"It's always a pleasure to play in front of such passionate fans," said Djokovic, a 24-time major winner, who tried to write thank-you notes in Chinese on the broadcast camera after every match in Shanghai.

"People have been giving me lots of love and support over the years, so I try to give back to them with good tennis, and also a basic knowledge of the Chinese language with a few phrases."