TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
HANGZHOU OPEN
Tour
ATP
Date of event
22-28 Sep 2027
Location
Hangzhou
Surface
Hard outdoor
Singles Title
D Medvedev
Doubles Title
F Cabral/J Tracy
Level
250
TENN360 INSIGHT:
Some ATP 250s feel like a tennis tournament that happens to have a venue.
Hangzhou feels rather different.
The tennis is played at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Center, affectionately known as the Little Lotus, a spectacular flower-shaped stadium beside the Qiantang River. It was originally built for the Asian Games, so the setting is considerably grander than you might expect from a 250. The centre court holds thousands of spectators and has a retractable roof, while two smaller show courts give the tournament plenty of room to spread out.
Then there is Hangzhou itself: West Lake, gardens, tea culture and a city that manages to feel both ancient and extremely modern.
Come for the tennis.
Stay for the rather beautiful surroundings.
The Little Lotus centre court is the obvious choice if you want the full tournament atmosphere.
I'd look for a lower-level side-on seat, rather than automatically choosing the most expensive ticket. The stadium is large enough to create a proper ATP atmosphere, but sitting closer to court level lets you appreciate the speed of the game rather than simply admiring the architecture.
And the architecture is worth admiring.
The retractable roof and petal-shaped design make this one of those venues where you occasionally find yourself looking upwards when you should probably be watching the tennis.
For something more intimate, try one of the two show courts. They each seat around 2,000, so the distance between you and the players is considerably reduced.
My choice?
Centre court for the big match. Show court for the match you didn't expect to love.
Good.
The dedicated tennis-centre layout helps here. There are multiple courts and practice facilities rather than one enormous stadium where players can disappear behind a maze of corridors.
The tournament has also attracted strong home interest, with Chinese players featuring prominently in the event and creating opportunities for fans to see them competing on home soil.
I'd keep an eye on practice schedules and arrive early enough to explore the complex.
As always, player access is about being in the right place at the right time rather than expecting someone to stroll over and introduce themselves.
Although that would be nice.
I'd go if you like new tournaments with impressive venues and a city worth exploring.
Hangzhou is an especially good choice if you're combining tennis with a holiday. West Lake alone gives you enough reason to extend the trip, while the city has a reputation for gardens, tea and food.
I'd also go if you enjoy discovering players before they become regular names at the Masters events and Grand Slams. ATP 250 tournaments can be brilliant for this, and Hangzhou has already produced some very good breakthrough stories.
And if you like seeing local players receive genuine home support, even better.
The atmosphere changes when the home crowd has someone to cheer for.
I'd make this part of a proper Hangzhou trip.
The tournament is relatively new, but the city certainly isn't, and it would be a shame to fly all that way and spend the entire visit inside a tennis complex.
At the tournament, I'd arrive early and have a wander around the grounds before settling in. There are three substantial courts, plus the wider tennis-centre facilities, so don't assume your best day will come from sitting in the same seat for six hours.
I'd also keep an eye on the Chinese players.
Home players have already created some of the tournament's most memorable moments, and the crowd gets noticeably more invested when one of their own is involved.
And when the tennis is finished, go and find some local food.
You are in Hangzhou.
It would be rude not to.
Hangzhou in late September can still be warm, and outdoor hard-court tennis means you should prepare for sunshine even if the temperature doesn't look particularly dramatic.
The good news is that the centre court has a retractable roof, which gives you some protection from difficult weather and can make the main stadium a more comfortable option during the day.
For the outdoor courts, though, assume you may be sitting in direct sun.
Hat. Sunglasses. Sunscreen.
And water.
If you have a choice between a daytime and evening session, I'd be tempted by the evening. The combination of tennis, the lights and the Little Lotus against the Hangzhou skyline sounds considerably more appealing than sitting in full sunshine trying not to melt.
The tennis centre is part of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre, on the southern bank of the Qiantang River.
This is not a tournament where I'd recommend choosing your hotel purely because it looks close on a map. Hangzhou is a large city, so I'd check your route carefully and allow plenty of time on match days.
The Olympic Sports Centre is part of the city's modern sporting and transport infrastructure, and the venue itself is well established after hosting tennis during the Asian Games.
I'd use public transport or a taxi/ride-hailing service rather than making parking the centre of your day.
And once you arrive, you're rewarded with one of the better-looking tennis venues on the tour.
I'd skip it if you want a tournament with decades of history and tradition.
Hangzhou is still finding its identity. It only joined the ATP Tour recently, so it doesn't yet have the accumulated stories and rituals of somewhere like Wimbledon or the US Open.
I'd also skip it if you are travelling purely to see one particular superstar.
An ATP 250 can attract very good players, but the field is never guaranteed in the way you might expect at a Grand Slam.
And if you're not interested in exploring Hangzhou itself, I'd question making such a long journey for the tennis alone.
This is one where the destination adds considerably to the tournament.
Power in Numbers
28
Single Draws
8,000
Centre court seat
3
Courts