On the picturesque shores of Taihu Lake, the Zhejiang Huzhou International Clay Tennis Center - the largest clay tennis facility in China - has officially

opened. Boasting four hard courts, 14 Roland Garros-standard clay courts, a 5,000-seat main stadium, and a 2,000-seat secondary arena, the venue redefines tennis infrastructure in the country.

Former world No. 1 Andre Agassi praised the venue's state-of-the-art facilities.

"For me the word comes to mind is extraordinary and very efficient. The facility is magnificent. It's one of the best I have ever seen and it's very smart to build red clay court for the young children to learn the sport the right way," he said.

"You will see the result of this infrastructure for generations to come and I think it will result in a lot of prosperity in the greater global tennis community," Agassi added.

Despite Huzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, lacking a clay court tradition, tennis stardom, or top-tier event history, the facility's location reflects historical roots and strategic vision.

Tennis has long been part of local culture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sport was introduced at Huzhou's Mogan Mountain summer retreat. Though those courts vanished, the passion endured. Today, Huzhou has 159 tennis courts, with programs in 80 percent of local schools.

This grassroots foundation has made Huzhou a talent hub. Rising star Bu Yunchaokete, discovered at age five by then-Huzhou municipal tennis coach Luo Yong in 2007, trained at the Huzhou Tennis Center before joining Zhejiang's provincial team. Last year, he reached the China Open semifinals, defeating top-25, top-20, and top-10 players.

Bai Xilin, director of China's Tennis Administration Center, highlighted the center's significance at the opening ceremony.

"The facility has filled a gap in high-standard clay court infrastructure in the Yangtze River Delta region," said Bai. "Its opening ushers in a new era of professionalization, internationalization, and sustainability for Chinese tennis, providing a platform for athlete preparation, event enhancement, and community engagement."

Clay courts evoke iconic moments for Chinese fans: Li Na's 2011 Roland Garros triumph and Zheng Qinwen's historic 2024 Paris Olympics gold.

Zheng now leads a new generation of Chinese talent, bolstered by domestic events like the China Open and ATP Shanghai Masters. With tennis surging in popularity, Huzhou's world-class clay center arrives at an ideal moment.