Defending champion Julia Goerges hits a return during her opening group loss to Anett Kontaveit at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai on Wednesday. [Photo/VCG]

Zhuhai Elite Trophy tourney caps WTA's grueling stretch in China

They might be battered and weary at the end of a long campaign, but the world's top women's tennis players still want to shine on the late-season swing through China.

The event-heavy China section on the WTA circuit after all four Grand Slams poses a daunting test, but those who prevail are grateful for the opportunity.

For some players competing at the ongoing year-end WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, success in China has been a major career boost.

"It's not easy to be physically ready during this period of the season; it's challenging for everybody, even as young as I am," said 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. "But I always play well in China. I just want to keep this energy and mindset, no matter where else I play."

World No 12 Sabalenka beat Australia's 19th-ranked Ashleigh Barty in straight sets in her opening match on Tuesday to maintain her torrid form in China, where she won her biggest career title at the Premier 5 tournament in Wuhan in September followed by back-to-back quarterfinals in Beijing and Tianjin before making her debut in Zhuhai.

Playing second billing to the WTA Finals, the Elite Trophy Zhuhai features the world's No 9-20 players squaring off in a round-robin format for a total prize pool of $2.35 million and an enticing 700 ranking points for the winner.

Sabalenka's deep runs in China, coupled with her last-16 finish at the US Open and an earlier title in Connecticut, saw her named WTA Newcomer of the Year, a testimony to the consistency shown in her first year fully focusing on the tour.

"The atmosphere in China really fits for me. It's amazing. And the fans, they're so cool. I think they are why playing here is much better than everywhere," said Sabalenka.

Although an incident during the China Open, where Sabalenka tossed an empty bottle toward a ball boy, sparked online criticism of the Minsk native, fans in Zhuhai have been generous in supporting the big hitter. Several Belarusian flags were spotted at the 5,000-seat central court of the Hengqin International Tennis Center during Sabalenka's match against Barty.

The growing public appreciation of tennis, highlighted by the impressive attendance at the Zhuhai event during work days, has been impressive. Although losing to Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-1, 2-6, 7-5, local player Wang Qiang's tournament opener on Tuesday evening attracted about 3,000 spectators at the central court, and tournament director Jose Miguel Garcia expects the crowds will keep growing.

"It's amazing how the sport has grown in this part of the world. New tournaments like Zhuhai have helped create the awareness among people," said the Spaniard, who also serves as the competition and operations manager for the Madrid Open.

"The first year it was difficult to attract all the available players to travel here, but now they recognize the value and quality of the tournament. And the local crowd has played a big part in it."

Defending champion Julia Goerges of Germany, who carried the momentum of her 2017 Zhuhai victory to win her first 2018 event in Auckland, said the energy from her fan group in China is always electrifying.

"I was surprised to realize I have a big fan base in China," said Goerges, who lost to Estonian Anett Kontaveit 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 in her group opener on Wednesday. "They gave us great support in Wuhan and Beijing and here. It's just very nice to see how tennis is so popular here."

Founded by two supporters in 2011, Goerges' fan club, called China Teamjule, now has about 2,500 followers on its Weibo account and has followed the German ace to every outing in China.

Drawn in the Rose Group with Kontaveit and Belgium's Elise Mertens, Georges said she's geared up for a title defense but feeling no pressure at all.

"It's important at the end of the season when a lot of energy has been spent to try to give it all that's left in your body," said the 29-year-old, who lifted her second title of the year in Luxemburg before arriving in Zhuhai.

"It's a great opportunity coming back here as it shows how consistent you are throughout the year. For me, it's just like coming back home to get all these great memories in, which I had last year winning the biggest title of the career. I think that's what it's all about."