By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-14 09:26

SHANGHAI - Fans from across the world have flocked to Shanghai to feel the heart-pounding excitement of the Masters Cup, a showdown pitting the world's most skilled tennis players against one another.

Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the trophy for the 2007 season winner during a ceremony at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai November 13, 2007. [Agencies]

"The (Masters) is special because it gathers the biggest stars in the sport," said Swiss spectator Rolf Wallner, who is attending the Shanghai event with his wife for the second time to cheer for his countryman, world No 1 and defending champion Roger Federer.

Although the trip is a bit on the expensive side - about $600 for the tennis tickets alone, plus traveling and accommodations - the competition between the world's most dominant players was too intriguing for the couple to resist.

"We knew what to expect this year. We came for the second time because we saw during the first time that it was great," he said. "Maybe we will come next year. But we need time and money. The trip is not cheap."

Wallner, who is an airport authority in Switzerland, combined his trip for the Masters Cup with a four-day tour of Beijing last year. To support his idol, Federer, Wallner was dressed in a custom-made T-shirt and wrapped in a national Swiss flag, sporting sunglasses bearing a red cross.

According to organizers, ticket sales for this year's Masters have increased by 30 percent compared to last year, largely due to the rising popularity of the sport and the epic performances of last year.

Tickets for the final and semifinals were sold out a week before the first match.

Statistics from 2006 show that more than 540,000 people in Shanghai played tennis at least once a week, compared to only 10,000 weekly players ten years ago. Tennis has become the second-most played sport behind basketball among people aged 15 to 25.

"You can see the increasing popularity of tennis in colleges and universities across China," said Xiong Li, a tennis coach at a Shanghai-based sports club. "It's not difficult for normal university graduates who majored in tennis to land a job, despite an increasing difficulty for college students to get employed."

The young woman arrived at Qi Zhong Tennis Center in suburban Shanghai to cheer for her favorite players immediately after she finished a coaching session.

"I think more people in Shanghai fall in love with tennis because of the Masters Cup," she said, adding that her students include kids aged 4 to 5 and adults in their 40s and 50s.

Doris Schmitz, a German teacher, has been coming to the event for three consecutive years. She and her girlfriend showed their experience as supporters as they led the rhythmic claps and chants of spectators in the stadium throughout the games.

"The event is always good," Schmitz said. "Especially the venue - in the shape of a huge white magnolia - is most impressive."