9,931 South Korean tennis fans filled the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center to watch the final of the Korea Open 2022. The ATP Tour tennis tournament returned to the peninsula for the first time since 1996 when Seoul was awarded a single-year license to host the Eugene Korea Open Tennis Championships at the same Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center. Big-name players including Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud, Yshihito Nishioka, and Kwon Soon Woo all made appearances on the court to put on a show for South Korean fans. 

Return of a Legend

The tournament quickly gained spotlight, as it also marked the return of the South Korean superstar, Chung Hyeon, who was ranked number one in Korea for many years. Though he was pulled off the court due to a series of injuries, the star made an appearance after a long wait at the Olympic Park to play doubles with the current number one in Korea, Kwon Soon Woo. The two made it to the semi-finals but fell short to the partnership of Nicolás Barrientos, Columbia, and Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela, Mexico. Having beaten star players such as Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev, Hyeon made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2018, the furthest any Korean has ever reached in the tournament. 

Eyes on the Ball

Though Koreans couldn’t find a glimpse of the ATP tour on the peninsula for more than 20 years, thousands of fans visited the Olympic Park Tennis Center to support their players. The popularity of the sport surprised many across the globe, with many supporters wanting more ATP tours in Korea in the future. A fan commented on a Youtube video, “The atmosphere is insane. Been a while seeing the stadium with full crowds in 250 series. ATP should consider seriously adding the Korea Open to their annual tournaments with raising to 500.” Another fan added on the same video, “ATP should consider making Korea a permanent fixture on tour, tons of demand, the crowds were amazing all week.” 

More to Come

The tournament saw its finale after Yoshihito Nishioka, Japan beat Denis Shapovalov, Canada in the finals on October 2nd, at the center court of the Olympic Park Tennis Center. The two stars battled out for the championship, as Nishioka took home the trophy with a 2-0 win. The crowd congratulated Nishioaka as he merrily lifted up his trophy. The extraordinary atmosphere gratified many players, and fans in Korea hope for more tennis events in the future.