Getting a taste of Australian Open in Shanghai
The winners of the Australian Open’s 10 challenge tournaments in China will be invited to attend the 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne.
The inaugural Australian Open Shanghai Challenge was held at the Shanghai International Center Club over the weekend.
Launched by the Australian Open organizer, the Australian Tennis Association, the amateur tournament provides Shanghai’s tennis followers with a platform to exchange skills and experience the charm of the Australian Open, one of the four grand slams.
Some 33 pairs of amateur players took part in the Shanghai tournament. The challenge has already visited seven Chinese cities of Beijing, Xi’an, Rizhao, Suzhou, Changsha, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou since July. It will hold two more stops in Hangzhou and Chengdu next month. The 10 winning pairs from the 10 cities will be invited to attend the 2020 Australian Open, which starts on January 20 in Melbourne.
Australia and tennis-themed decorations and interactive games have been featured during the challenge. Tennis fans can simulate the feeling of sitting at the Melbourne Park courts through virtual reality glasses.
Visitors got a sneak peek of the players' locker room at the Australian Open during the Shanghai event.
