Over 220,000 spectators watched the ATP Shanghai Masters on-site at the Qizhong Tennis Center from Sept 30 to Oct 13, setting a record high for the world's top tennis tournament, according to event organizers.

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match at the Shanghai Masters in Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai on Oct 13. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Nearly 70 percent of the spectators came from outside Shanghai, as the tournament was held throughout the National Day holiday, as revealed by Juss Sports and the Minhang district of Shanghai where the center is located.

To attract spectators, sponsor zones at the center were filled with tennis-themed activities, offering fans and visitors a tennis frenzy throughout the venue. A diverse range of exclusive merchandise also captured the hearts of collectors and tennis enthusiasts, such as plush toys shaped like tennis balls and rackets, with sales exceeding one million yuan a day, according to the organizers who called the event "a thrilling showcase of world-class tennis talent that has captivated hundreds of thousands of audiences across China, but also served as a driver to boost economy and integrate sports with business and tourism".

In addition, the Shanghai Masters offered a special ticket promotion "Ticket & Travel" for spectators, navigating tennis spectators to visit famous tourist attractions in Shanghai, including the Huangpu River Cruise and the grand exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts at the Shanghai Museum.