In this file photo dated Sept 24, 2019, Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic serves during the women's singles second round match between Wang Qiang of China and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic at the 2019 WTA Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan of central China's Hubei province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

WUHAN, China - The Wuhan Open, one of the 10 WTA1000 tournaments worldwide, is set to return to Wuhan for the first time since 2019, organizers said on Wednesday.

The tournament will be held from Oct 7 to 13 at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center, which features a retractable roof center court and is able to hold more than 13,000 spectators.

"We are delighted to announce the return of the WTA1000 event to Wuhan, and reignite the thrill of elite tennis competition in one of Asia's most vibrant cities," said Jorge Salkeld, senior vice-president of Octagon Tennis.

The Wuhan Open has crowned many iconic champions since the inaugural event was held in 2014, including Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO

"This premium event not only showcases the remarkable talent of WTA athletes, but also highlights Wuhan's enduring commitment to fostering sporting excellence," Salkeld added.

As the provincial capital city of Hubei, the home province of China's two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na and current ace Zheng Qinwen, Wuhan witnessed the popularity of tennis grow exponentially in the past two decades.

"The Wuhan Open has crowned many iconic champions since the inaugural event was held in 2014, including Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka," said Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO. "We are excited to now write another chapter of the tournament's history in 2024."