Event aces its rivals with off-court experiences

Strange as it may seem that while the Rolex Shanghai Masters has won the best ATP1000 tournament award five times the awe-inspiring level of tennis was just part of its run of success.

What ensured this run was the constant effort devoted to enhancing player experience, particularly off court, that has earned the thumbs-up from the world's best, not exactly noted for their ability to be pleased.

Just ask world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz if he got bored during his extended wait for behind-schedule matches, due to rain delays, last week at the Qizhong Tennis Center, and the 21-year-old four-time major winner would be like "No, not at all!".

A fun set-up of a nine-hole mini golf putting course kept a group of players, including Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz of the United States and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, occupied and entertained during their spare time at the tennis center, helping them stay competitive off court.

"It was a pretty good idea from the tournament," Alcaraz said of the mini golf course.

"It's almost full every day, a lot of players are playing. Myself, I'm a huge fan of golf. With my team, we are having a lot of laughs, you know, playing mini golf these days, it's something that I enjoy a lot," Alcaraz, who made it into quarterfinals last week in Shanghai, added.

The course offered visiting players a taste of Shanghai with miniatures of the city's major landmarks, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and Yuyuan Garden, identifying each of the nine holes, with the final one featuring a small replica of the tennis center's lotus-shaped stadium court.

As another golf lover among the tennis masters, world No 11 Tsitsipas had an unexpected, yet entertaining, encounter with a real master when Aussie women's golfer Hannah Green was invited to visit the tennis center on Oct 8 before she teed off at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, an annual event on the women's tour, at next-door Qizhong Garden Golf Club.

The tennis star went head-to-head against the five-time LPGA title winner in a putting contest, and left with plenty of tricks learned on the green.

"No one has been able to do that whole week," Tsitsipas said as he explained the hole-in-one performed in Green's first putt during their game. "It's something exciting to have a pro like her showing us how it's done.

"That was very fun. We got very competitive. I realize that I am not as good as I thought I was ... The tournament has obviously considered us, made sure we're happy being here," said Tsitsipas.

Held in a metropolis that represents China's past and present, the Shanghai Masters, which won the "Best ATP1000 Tournament of the Year" from 2009-13, always goes the extra mile to allow players to experience the profound Chinese culture and its modern face against a stunning urban backdrop.

Before swinging off at this year's tournament, Norway's world No 8 Casper Ruud and 10th ranked Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov spent a day at the China Art Museum in the heart of Shanghai, getting immersed in the ancient artifacts and historic relics on display at The Great Art of Dunhuang exhibition.

The cherished national treasures, among more than 160 pieces and items, which made their public debut in Shanghai, left the two tennis stars in awe of the aesthetic appeal of Chinese culture.

"What I liked the most was it felt like we were several hundreds of years back in time walking though the rooms," Ruud said of the visit. "I guess that's what this whole experience is about, exhibiting the history of China, the changing of dynasties, so it's really cool."

The visit to the museum made their Shanghai trip a special one to remember this year, said Dimitrov, a fan favorite in China.

"I think I've never been in a way pleasantly busy doing things off the court like I did this year (in Shanghai). I'm starting to explore more and more of the city, get tiny bits of the culture, went to amazing museum.

"Of course, tennis is what I'm here for, but I'm trying to grab with both hands everything else I'm doing outside the court. When you combine them together, it gives you that natural, new experience that helps you play better."

As a tradition of the tournament, American star Fritz and Italy's Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti took a night tour to Shanghai's Lujiazui area and hit a few tennis balls in an open practice at the green park, enjoying quite an urban vibe at the foot of skyscrapers in the city's financial center.

Since the tournament's inaugural edition in 2009, visits to Shanghai's famous tourism spots, such as the Bund along the Huangpu River and the Oriental Pearl Tower, have grown popular among players.

"This is one of the best Masters 1000 events. The fans are super excited. Obviously, we don't play that much in Asia and in China, so it's great to see the fans are excited for us to be here," Fritz said of his experience in Shanghai.