Members of the audience scramble for a towel used by tennis player Andy Murray of Great Britain after a match at the China Open in Beijing on Friday.[Photo by WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY]

Instead of joining the crowds that packed into tourist destinations, many Beijingers and others from across the country watched the China Open in the capital, thanks to the country's growing enthusiasm for the sport.

"It has become an annual festival that people don't have to remind themselves about anymore. While some people opt to travel, fans will surely stay for the tennis gala," said Pu Cunxin, a Chinese actor and frequent attendee of the event.

With record prize money of $9.5 million for the men's and women's events this year－more than eight times what was offered in 2004 when the event debuted－its lineup is the most prestigious among events in Asia, including four of the five top women's players and two of the men's top five.

The finals will be held on Sunday.

"To watch the super stars playing and cheer for them from the stands is so exciting. It is my top priority during the National Day holiday," said Zheng Sicheng, a 20-year-old fan of Spain's Rafael Nadal who traveled from Zhengzhou, Henan province.

The venue was relocated in 2009 from the suburban Beijing Tennis Center to the National Tennis Center used in the previous year's Olympics. In 2011, organizers built the Diamond Court－the main venue with a retractable roof and 15,000 seats－on the site.

Visitors to the National Tennis Center can also enjoy such promotional activities as mini fan matches, autograph signings and carnivals.

Affordable tickets, some costing as little as 10 yuan ($1.50), also contribute to the event's popularity.

For the players, customized nutrition and flexible sightseeing itineraries are available at the hotel, which offers athletes suites with full views of Beijing Olympic Park.

"They want to give the best to the players. I feel that every single time I come here, I get the best. People are happy that I'm here. I'm happy I'm here. So it's all this good stuff," said seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world No 1 Venus Williams.

Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion who has a huge fan base in China, said: "There has always been huge support here in China. I really enjoy it a lot. It is great to be far from your home and see a lot of Spanish flags out there."