Shanghai Masters

The Shanghai Masters is the crown jewel of tennis in Asia — the only ATP Masters 1000 held outside Europe or North America, and the centrepiece of the autumn Asian swing. It combines a world-class field with one of the most striking venues in the sport.

Founded in 2009, the tournament is played at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai's Minhang District, instantly recognisable for its retractable roof shaped like a blooming magnolia — the official flower of Shanghai. The venue was purpose-built in 2005 to host the year-end Tennis Masters Cup before Shanghai was awarded its Masters 1000. It's an ATP-only event and one of the most prestigious stops of the second half of the season.

Shanghai is China's dazzling financial capital — a city of futuristic skyline, historic waterfront and extraordinary food. The venue sits in Minhang, well outside the city centre, so getting to and from the tennis is a proper commute; build that travel time into your plans.

Tickets are sold through the official Rolex Shanghai Masters channels, by session and by seating category. As elsewhere, the early rounds offer the most tennis for the money. International visitors should sort out China's visa and entry requirements well in advance — that's the key piece of planning for this one.

October in Shanghai is generally pleasant, though recent editions have drawn attention for heat, so pack accordingly. The magnolia-roofed arena is worth seeing in its own right. Allow generous travel time from the city centre, and plan the visa and entry logistics for China early — that's the part that catches first-time visitors out.