If you’re trying to pin down the China Open 2025 schedule, honestly, it’s a bit of a moving target until you realize how the tournament is actually structured. Most people think it’s just a week of tennis. It’s not. For the first time, this thing is stretching across three full weeks, making it the first comprehensive tennis event in Asia to go that long.
Beijing is basically turning into the tennis capital of the world from mid-September through early October. If you’re planning to fly in or even just watch from your couch, you’ve gotta know that the ATP (men) and WTA (women) don't run on the exact same timeline here. It’s a staggered start that can be kinda confusing if you’re looking at a generic calendar.
Breaking Down the Three-Week Chaos
The whole extravaganza at the National Tennis Center starts way earlier than the big names show up. We’re talking September 14th. That first week isn't for the pros you see on TV every day; it’s the ITF J300 junior tournament. It runs from September 14 to September 21. Think of it as the "scouting week" where the next Jannik Sinner or Coco Gauff is probably grinding away on a side court.
Then, things get serious.
The WTA 1000 event is the big sister here. It kicks off with qualifying matches around September 22, but the main draw singles action officially starts on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. It’s a massive 96-player field for the women. Because it's so big, the top 32 seeds get a first-round bye. You won't see Iga Swiatek or Zheng Qinwen hitting a ball in anger until at least Friday or Saturday of that first week.
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The Men’s Timeline is Shorter
The guys have a tighter window. The ATP 500 portion of the China Open 2025 schedule is more of a sprint. It generally starts a couple of days after the women. Specifically, the men’s main draw usually fires up around September 26 and wraps up by October 2.
Why the difference? The ATP event in Beijing is a 500-level tournament, whereas the WTA is a 1000-level "Mandatory" event. This means the women’s draw is twice as large and requires more days to filter down to the finals.
Key Dates You Actually Need to Circle
If you only care about the trophies and the high-stakes drama, you need to look at the "Golden Week." That’s the first week of October in China, and the tournament organizers timed everything to hit a crescendo right then.
- September 24: WTA Main Draw Starts.
- September 26: ATP Main Draw Starts.
- October 2: ATP Men’s Singles Final.
- October 4: WTA Semifinals.
- October 5: WTA Women’s Singles and Doubles Finals.
The Sunday, October 5 finale is the big one. It’s the climax of the whole three-week stretch.
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Where Exactly is This Happening?
Everything goes down at the National Tennis Center (often called the Olympic Green Tennis Center). It’s an insane facility. The "Diamond Court" is the centerpiece—it has a retractable roof and holds 15,000 people. If it rains, the schedule doesn't fall apart like it does at some other tournaments.
They’ve actually done a ton of upgrades for 2025. There's a new "Signature Zone" on the west side specifically so fans can get closer to players for autographs. They also added five new practice courts. If you're a hardcore fan, the practice courts are actually where the best action is. You can stand five feet away from Daniil Medvedev while he’s venting to his coach about a forehand.
Who’s Showing Up?
While the China Open 2025 schedule dictates when they play, the entry list tells you why you should care. Since the WTA event is mandatory, you're basically guaranteed to see the entire top 10 unless someone is literally on crutches.
Expect to see:
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- Aryna Sabalenka (depending on her post-US Open recovery).
- Coco Gauff (the 2024 defending champ).
- Zheng Qinwen (the local hero—expect the Diamond Court to be deafening when she plays).
- Jannik Sinner (he loves the fast hard courts in Beijing).
- Carlos Alcaraz (usually a lock for the Asian swing).
Practical Advice for Following the Schedule
Don't trust the "start times" listed on generic sports apps. Those are almost always "not before" times. Tennis is notorious for matches running long. If a women's match goes to a three-hour marathon, the night session that was supposed to start at 7:00 PM might not actually begin until 9:30 PM.
If you’re buying tickets, the Double Finals Package is usually the best bang for your buck. It covers the business end of both the men's and women's draws. Tickets usually go on sale in early August—specifically, they’ve used August 8th (8/8) as a launch date in the past because of the significance of the number 8 in Chinese culture.
Your Next Steps for 2025:
- Check the official China Open WeChat Mini Program or the website in early August for the exact ticket release.
- If you're watching from the US or Europe, prepare for some late nights or very early mornings due to the time difference in Beijing (CST).
- Focus on the second week of the schedule (Sept 29 - Oct 5) if you want to see the top-seeded players face off against each other.
The schedule is designed to peak during the National Day holiday, so expect the crowds to be massive and the atmosphere to be electric during those final five days.