The Shanghai Masters has been named the 2026 ATP1000 Tournament of the Year, the Association of Tennis Professionals announced on November 14.
The award, determined by a vote of ATP players, recognizes the event for excellence in organization, facilities, and player experience.
ATP players select Shanghai
Players evaluate Masters 1000 events across several objective metrics, with the highest cumulative score securing the annual title. The distinction highlights the tournament’s standing among the professional circuit following years of consistent operational upgrades.
“In the past, we won the best tournament award for five consecutive years, which shows that every Masters event is constantly improving,” said Yang Yibin, chairman of Shanghai Juss Event Management. “We have always been working hard and hope to regain this honor.”
The Rolex Shanghai Masters, Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha and Almaty Open have been named Tournaments of the Year in their respective categories for the 2026 ATP Awards, based on the results of player surveys. Read more 👇https://t.co/Y1V619cTpe
Infrastructure and service upgrades
The tournament, held at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, has undergone significant changes since its 2009 debut. In 2023, organizers expanded the tournament schedule from one week to 14 days and increased the singles draw from 56 to 96 players, moving the event into the “Super Masters” era.
Hardware improvements remain a central focus for the organization. The venue’s fitness center underwent a major renovation in 2023, resulting in an 800-square-meter indoor facility complemented by an outdoor warm-up area. On the software side, organizers have tailored player services to the diverse needs of the international field.
“This year, we noticed an increasing number of Spanish-speaking and South American players,” Yang told Chinanews.com.cn. “We added Spanish-speaking volunteers and specifically introduced South American cuisine to provide players with an experience as close to home as possible.”
Record attendance and city-wide integration
The 2026 edition of the tournament drew nearly 250,000 spectators throughout the event. Financial metrics also reached new peaks, with organizers reporting record-high revenue from sponsorships and ticket sales.
To deepen community engagement, the event introduced a “Masters Carnival” during the National Day holiday and established an official secondary site in the Jing’an New Suhewan area. The "ACE" city-themed campaign further integrated the tournament into Shanghai’s cultural and tourism industry.
Future development plans
Looking ahead, Juss Event Management intends to continue expanding the “Tournament Plus” model. The organization plans to explore further opportunities in sports-related tourism and retail, capitalizing on the growth of event-linked consumption.
“We will continue to deepen the ‘Tournament Plus’ model, work with the city to manage ticket-based economic activities, and explore more products that combine sports with cultural tourism,” Yang said. The company is also focusing on the long-term potential of tournament-branded merchandise and derivatives.
The Shanghai Masters previously received the ATP “Standards of Excellence” award in 2024 and 2025, while the annual tournament awards for those years were granted to the Indian Wells Masters and the Cincinnati Masters, respectively.
