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A tennis enthusiast competes in the 2023 ITF International Tennis Masters Tour in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

The 2023 ITF International Tennis Masters Tournament MT200, a four-day event, began on Nov 17 at the Jiaxing International Tennis Center.

More than 250 players from various countries, including Australia, Germany, Britain, and South Korea, participated.

This is the first time Jiaxing has hosted this international event for one of the most popular sports in the world. The event is organized by the International Tennis Federation for tennis lovers aged 30 to 90. It aims to inspire players of different levels and ages to see tennis as a way to socialize and make friends.

The event is hosted by the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) and undertaken by several local organizations. It has five age groups and 17 singles events, allowing participants to experience both singles and doubles matches.

Zhu Jiaping, one of the organizers of the event, said that the event is points-based with a certain entry threshold. However, many participants regard it as a holiday-style competition, as they have plenty of time to explore the city and make friends with other players.

Some participants shared their stories and expectations for the event. Lin Qile, a Wenzhou native, said that he came with three friends and looks forward to meeting some skilled tennis players. Song Yuying, a local player, said she wants to compete with skilled players from all over the world and recommend Jiaxing to everyone.