The ATP250 Hangzhou Open began at the Olympic Sports Center Tennis Center on Sept 17. The first day featured the singles qualifying round, while local star Wu Yibing and China's top player Zhang Zhizhen are set to compete on Sept 19.

A year ago, Zhang triumphed at the Asian Games in the very same venue, known as the "Little Lotus". However, he has tempered his expectations this year due to a recent injury. "Right now, my priority is my physical condition," he said, adding that he is still recovering and is not yet performing at his peak.

Although star players like Holger Rune, Karen Khachanov, and Zhang will appear later in the tournament, the opening day attracted many fans. Over 6,000 tickets were sold at affordable prices ranging from 50 to 80 yuan ($7 to $11.3).

"I couldn't get tickets for the Asian Games, so I made sure to come to the 'Little Lotus'," said a fan from Shaoxing, expressing her excitement to see Zhang and support all the Chinese players.

The Hangzhou Open will utilize three courts, including the indoor main court and two outdoor courts. To prevent rain disruptions, the roof of the "Little Lotus" was closed before the matches, showcasing the venue's advanced technology.

The main court's first match saw Chinese wildcard player Xiao Lin'ang take on Hong Kong's Coleman Wong Chak-lam, with Wong securing the win. "I played a lot here during last year's Asian Games and it felt great. I hope to keep winning," Wong said.