Tournament Opening and Venue Upgrades in Ningbo
The 2026 Ningbo Open officially opened on the evening of October 19 at the central stadium of the Ningbo (鄞州) Tennis Center, chinanews.com.cn reported. Thousands of spectators watched as the venue’s retractable roof slowly opened to start the tournament.
Ahead of the matches, organizers held a special ceremony to present the tournament with the “Global WTA500 Most Improved Tournament of the Year” award trophy. According to chinanews.com.cn, the venue completed several major upgrades ahead of the tournament’s elevation to the WTA500 level in 2024, including adding the movable roof to the central stadium, constructing a new grandstand court, and renovating the player service center.
Cultural Pageantry and Official Remarks
The opening ceremony featured a light show and a dance performance titled “Yinfeng Songyun,” which integrated local cultural elements with modern tennis. Bai Xilin, Party Secretary and Director of the Tennis Sports Management Center of the State General Administration of Sport, spoke at the event. He stated that the Ningbo Open achieved a transition from a basic tournament to an international high-level event within three years, establishing itself as a key stop on the China swing and bringing global attention to the city.
Following the speeches, players Rybakina and Ostapenko joined fans at courtside for a brief hitting session. According to tournament schedules reported by chinanews.com.cn, main draw matches began on October 19 and will conclude with the singles and doubles finals on October 25, drawing competitors from more than 20 countries and regions.
The WTA Ningbo Open is getting closer — and its defending champion is coming back!🎾WTA World No 1 Elena Rybakina has confirmed she will compete in the tournament this October. After taking home the trophy last year, she is set to play again at the Ningbo (Yinzhou) Tennis… pic.twitter.com/ewHGwxZT8X
First-Round Matchups and Schedule
First-round matches continued on October 20, featuring several prominent pairings on the central court. Former French Open champion Ostapenko faced Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Bencic in the third match of the day. Chinese player Guo Hanyu faced last year’s runner-up, Alexandrovna, marking the first career meeting between the two players. Additional opening-round contests featured two-time Grand Slam runner-up Paolini playing Kalinina, and 6th seed Shnaider facing Putintseva.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ningbo Open
Where is the Ningbo Open held?
The tournament takes place at the Ningbo (鄞州) Tennis Center, which features a newly upgraded central stadium equipped with a retractable roof and a new grandstand court.
When do the finals take place?
The singles and doubles tournament finals are scheduled for October 25, following a week of competition featuring players from over 20 countries and regions.
Which notable players are competing in the opening rounds?
The tournament features prominent players including Rybakina, Ostapenko, Bencic, Paolini, and Chinese player Guo Hanyu.
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