MELBOURNE -- As China works to position itself as the next global tennis powerhouse, with the goal of rivaling strongholds like Italy and Spain, organizers of the Australian Open are eyeing the potential windfalls of growing Chinese player success and fan interest.
Chinese visitor numbers to the Australian Open, often referred to as the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific, has hit 2,700 this year so far, according to Tennis Australia, following years of consistent annual growth. This marks an increase of nearly 1,000 attendees over last year, and doesn't include those arriving through travel packages.
