2017 China Open kicks off with a record $9.41m in prize money

The 2017 China Open (Tennis), which kicked off on September 24 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, has reported a record total prize money of US $9.41 million, an increase of nearly one million dollars from the US $8.51 million prize in 2016.

Founded in 2004, this tournament has become an important part of the ATP World Tour 500 series for the 2017 ATP World Tour, with the last WTA Premier Mandatory tournament of the 2017 WTA Tour. 

During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the China Open has become the most watched WTA event throughout the world. As Gao Yang, Content General Manager of the event’s promotor in Beijing, said, appearances of superstars and fan engagement have helped them make such achievements. 

Regarding event broadcasting, Gao’s team is looking to introduce a 360-degree panoramic view of the 2017 event. As the world’s first professional tennis event to use virtual reality broadcasting in 2015, the China Open is also expected to adopt data analytics to cater to a younger audience.

Source: Sohu

Proofread by William Logsdon