A player smashes the ball back in an exchange during the 2025 International Women's Tennis Huzhou Open, held in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2025 International Women's Tennis Huzhou Open kicked off with a bang on Sept 8 at the Huzhou International Clay Court Tennis Center — situated in Wuxing district, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The tournament, part of the WTA 125 series organized by the Women's Tennis Association, features women's singles and doubles matches, and the action is set to run to Sept 14.

It has attracted star players from nearly 20 countries and regions, including China's rising stars Wang Xiyu, Gao Xinyu, and Wei Sijia, fresh from the US Open Tennis Championships.

Notable international tennis players at the nets include the USA's Katie Volynets and Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas, promising thrilling matches.

Hard-fought tussles at the 2025 International Women's Tennis Huzhou Open thrill the crowds. [Photo/Tide News]

The Huzhou International Clay Court Tennis Center, as the largest red clay tennis facility in Asia, boasts 14 red clay courts and four hard courts.

The opening day was a lively affair, with a bustling tennis market outside the venue offering tennis gear for sale, local Huzhou gastronomic specialties, and all sorts of colorful and appealing products.