By Scoop Malinowski
The Macau Masters tennis exhibition tried their very best but it looked like a flop. The hardly sensible competition featured Yibing Wu, Alejandro Fokina and Mirra Andreeva with captain Conchita Martinez vs Juncheng Shang, Ugo Humbert, Alexandra Eala with captain Li Na.
This combination made no sense, nor did the composition of singles, doubles and “mixed mixed doubles” matches over two days. The indoor arena which staged the action was about 80 percent empty.
It was one of the dullest events of pro tennis I ever saw. The players tried their best to entertain the small crowd and they did some funny improvisational points of touch tennis and two trading cross court while the other partners walked off court. Shang and Wu also ended up sitting on their butts during one comedic rally. And Fokina ended up sitting on the other team’s bench after one strenuous rally, seeing Shang and Eala’s reaction was amusing.
Also seeing Yibing Wu sing between matches during an interview was wonderful, he’s quite a talented vocalist believe it or not.
But the overall vibe of the pro tennis was a disappointment because it did not capture the essence of real tennis, real tension, real pressure, which is what tennis fans want to see and pay to see.
Macau Masters would be the perfect event to stage two fascinating 16 man, 16 woman random invitational draws out of a hat of players ranked from 150-500, the lower ranked players who need funding – also maybe include two to four Chinese wildcard players in each draw.
There could also be a mixed doubles added.
I’m fairly certain Macau has the money to play with and could afford to revise their current set up and perhaps if not, surely a Saudi Arabian sponsor could be added to assure financial success and avoid financial failure.
If Macau wants to establish it’s mark on the tennis map, there is a golden opportunity though it will need to embrace big change and innovative thinking.
Tennis Channel showed all of the 2025 Macau Masters action and that is something to take advantage of in 2026.
Jerry Shang · Macau Masters · Yibing Wu
