Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and more get a boost from 'very passionate' Chinese fans

WUHAN, China—As the tennis calendar makes its way through the Asian swing, worn-out players are getting an energy boost at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, thanks to the famously passionate sports fans in China.

Players at the China Open in Beijing and in Wuhan have been feeling the love from enthusiastic tennis lovers, who regularly shower players with unique gifts like personalized plush toys, elaborate banners and dedicated fan art—even for Western players, much to their delight.

“Honestly, it’s the place I've come [where] I've gotten the most gifts,” said 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff. “You'll get bracelets from some fans in the U.S.

“In the U.S. and here, I think, I get the most gifts. But here, you can tell they really take time to give you the gifts and see what you like. They know I like stuffed animals, so I've gotten a lot of those.”

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For two-time Wuhan champion Aryna Sabalenka—dubbed an “old friend” of Wuhan by Chinese media after winning back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019—that means a lot of tiger-themed presents.

The 26-year-old has a tiger tattoo on her forearm, which is both a nod to her fighting spirit and the fact that she was born in the Year of the Tiger (1998) on the Chinese Zodiac, a detail that has endeared her to tennis followers in the region over the years.

“My favorite [gift] so far is the tiger hat. It's so funny and so cool. I kept it. It's in my bag,” confirmed Sabalenka, whose nickname in China is ‘Tiger Girl.'

“Also I have a big fan since I don't know how many years—probably since my first visit to China—and she brought me a huge bucket with a lot of little gifts,” she added. “There was gifts for my team. She signed every gift. ‘This is for Jason [Stacy, Sabalenka's physio]. Thank you so much for being the best team in the world.’ It was so cute and nice. I love this kind of stuff.”

But what do globe-trotting tennis players do with said buckets full of gifts? Traveling week in and week out with loads of luggage, gear and maybe a trophy or two, it’s already a logistical exercise to get from Point A to Point B even before factoring in extra pounds of keepsakes.

While it’s not always possible to hang onto every fan gift, many players are eager to hang on to as many as they can—keychains with stuffed animals become a new permanent accessories on racquet bags, for example—and the bulkiest items may get shipped home.

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“Last week in Beijing I received a huge panda. Like, it weighs I think around two kilos probably!” said Mirra Andreeva when asked about her favorite fan gift.

“The paws are really heavy. If you put it on yourself, the paws are just here,” she added, gesturing to her shoulders in a hugging motion, “it will just hang on you. That's a really nice one.

“I already had trouble traveling with it, but I'm going to take it home, of course … I received a lot of gifts. I don't mind! I like that. So, yeah, just have to buy another suitcase for all of those."

Then, there are the autograph seekers. A common sight at sports and entertainment events around the world, the practice is taken to a whole new level in China.

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In Wuhan, national hero Zheng Qinwen, a native of Wuhan and gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is by far the most popular target. Her countrywomen like Yuan Yue and Wang Xinyu are also riding the wave of the post-Olympics boom in tennis interest in China.

The autograph requests range from run-of-the-mill action shots and fan art, to signing a few more unusual items.

“I signed one of my wedding pictures, which was a little strange, a little different,” No. 2 seed Jessica Pegula recalled.

“There was one moment after a practice, when a woman came onto the court who was helping us pick up the balls. She was putting them on my racquet as I was carrying them. And then yesterday, she had pictures of that interaction that she had printed out, and I signed the pictures. She must have been a volunteer … I thought that was actually kind of cute,” the American added.

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They are the kinds of interactions that bringing a much-needed boost for players who are already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, with season-ending events like WTA Finals Riyadh and the Billie Jean King Cup fast approaching on the horizon.

And for players who are competing far from home, or those that don’t have a home tournament at all on WTA Tour, that enthusiasm is a welcome change of pace, and perhaps a delightful contrast, to the more demure tennis crowds who frequent tournaments like Wimbledon or Indian Wells.

“After my final (in Beijing), there was a lady, she was saying, I love you, I love you, over and over, like screaming,” Gauff recalled with a grin.

“The security guards were laughing. I was laughing too because of how enthusiastic she was! The fans have been very passionate.”