In an upset, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was crowned at the 2019 WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai by defeating top-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-2 at the Hengqin International Tennis Center on Oct 27.

Meanwhile, transnational partners Lyudmyla Kichenok (Ukraine) & Andreja Klepač (Slovenia) outperformed home favorites Duan Yingying & Yang Zhaoxuan 6-3, 6-3 to dominate in women's doubles. 

The female tennis tourney, which was in its last edition in Zhuhai, had a record-high prize pool of $2.42 million and 700 ranking points for the winner this year.

It attracted more than 20,000 spectators and wide media attention during the six match days. About 210 journalists from 45 domestic and foreign media such as Reuters, Associated Press, Xinhua News Agency, and the BBC were covering the event as of Oct 26. A total of 4,761 reports were produced, up 17.1 percent from last year. 

Awards ceremony [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]

Five years on, the tournament generated sound economic returns and growth in Zhuhai's tennis industry, integrated the sport into the city's culture, and enhanced Zhuhai-Macao cooperation and exchanges.

Ipsos and Nielson survey data shows that more than 170,000 WTA spectators brought in an economic value of 2.3 billion yuan ($325 million) over the past four years.

Significantly, the event established the city as an attractive tennis venue strong enough to host the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-offs in 2016 and the ATP World Tour 250 in 2019.

On the public level, more than 80 gratis activities have been staged in campus and tennis interactions at more than 30 residential communities. The Hengqin International Tennis Center is open to local and Hong Kong and Macao residents, with free instructions by professional coaches on offer.

This year, a Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Junior Tennis Base was unveiled by Tennis legend Stefanie Graf before the opening ceremony. Nearly 200 Hengqin and 150 Macao residents attended a tennis carnival on Oct 27.

The event was organized by Huafa Group under the umbrella of the Chinese Tennis Association and the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government.