Organizers announced on Wednesday that Daniil Medvedev, a former world number one and winner of the 2021 US Open, will lead the return of top-tier men's tennis to China after a four-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Medvedev will participate in the ATP Tour's Zhuhai Championships, scheduled for September 20-26. The ATP confirmed that the Zhuhai Championships have also been in productive discussions with other grand-slam champions and highly-ranked players, and additional high-profile players will be announced shortly.

Simultaneously with the Zhuhai tournament, another ATP event is scheduled to be held in Chengdu, located in the southwestern region of China.

Following these tournaments, the China Open will commence in Beijing at the end of September, followed by the renowned Shanghai Masters in October. Daniil Medvedev, who is now ranked third in the world at the age of 27, expressed his excitement about making his debut in Zhuhai, saying, "I'm really looking forward to coming back to China and playing at the Hengqin International Tennis Center. I can't wait to see the city and the stadium, both of which I have heard a lot of good things about."

In 2019, Alex de Minaur from Australia emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the tournament held in Zhuhai, which is located close to Hong Kong. Earlier this month, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announced its plans to return to China this year as well. With the relaxation of strict travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, international sports are gradually returning to the country.