Fresh off her historic victory in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen has confirmed her participation in the 2024 Wuhan Open. Scheduled for Oct 7-13, the prestigious competition will mark the return of top-tier tennis to Wuhan after a four-year hiatus.

Zheng Qinwen wins the gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

Zheng, born in 2002, became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles gold medal when she defeated Donna Vekic from Croatia in the final. This victory further cemented her rising star status, after having already secured the 19th Asian Games gold medal and the Australian Open runner-up title in 2024.

"I've long been looking forward to the 2024 Olympics," Zheng said. "This event was a rollercoaster for me, unlike any competition I've ever experienced. It felt like I had the weight of Chinese tennis on my shoulders. Every match was a hard-fought battle, but winning the gold made it all worthwhile."

The Optics Valley International Tennis Center. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

As a WTA 1000 event, the Wuhan Open ranks just below the Grand Slams in prestige and is one of the highest-level tennis competitions in China. The event will be held at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC), a state-of-the-art facility built in 2014 specifically for the Wuhan Open. The center has become a local landmark, showcasing Wuhan's cultural vibrancy through its professional, international and standardized facilities.

Fans can expect a thrilling competition as top tennis players from around the world, including Zheng, arrive in Wuhan for a week of high-octane tennis events in October.