The return of Wuhan Open

October saw a triumphant return to the WTA Tour of the Dongfeng Voyah ­Wuhan Open, the first time the event had been held since 2019. The tournament is now a WTA 1000 tournament and enjoyed its highest ever attendance, with a sold-out 15,000-seater stadium for the last three days and a blockbuster final between Aryna Sabalenka and hometown heroine Qinwen Zheng. While Sabalenka kept up her unbeaten record in Wuhan to win her third title and take a big step towards the year-end World No.1 ranking, it crowned a breakthrough year for Zheng after she won the Olympic Gold medal in singles and was runner-up at the Australian Open.

We have worked with the WSDI/WISE and Octagon teams in Wuhan since 2014 so this event is really close to our hearts. As much as it was brilliant to see a full stadium and positive headlines all over the world, the real joy was in being reunited with so many colleagues after an eventful few years.