Players come out in hoards for Beijing player party

Dubbed the “party of the year,” top players from the ATP and WTA tours flashed some serious style at the China Open in Beijing.

A number of players who could make a strong case for Comeback Player of the Year—like Maria Sharapova, Juan Martin Del Potro and Petra Kvitova—made appearances at the party, held at the Bird's Nest.

Kvitova, along with No. 8 ranked Grigor Dmitrov, were named the best dressed stars of the evening. Dmitrov is enjoying a career year as the winner of three titles in 2017, with his most recent crown coming in Cincinnati.

The stars of the late-summer season were particularly well represented. CoCo Vandeweghe, a semifinalist at this year’s US Open, made a statement.

She decisively won her opening-round match in Beijing, defeating Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-2, but retired with a back injury against Daria Gavrilova.

Rafael Nadal and Pablo Carreno Busta represented Spain in contrasting styles.

Carreno Busta, coming off a career-best semifinal appearance at this year’s US Open, lost his first round to Steve Darcis, 6-0, 6-4. Nadal will look to end a 12-year cold streak since he last won the China Open (though he won the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing). Coupled with the chase for year-end No. 1 between himself and Roger Federer, Beijing holds plenty at stake for Nadal. He just barely battled past Lucas Pouille in his opening round match.

Laver Cup teammates Thomas Berdych and Alexander Zverev reunited at the party, as did Washington doubles partners Eugenie Bouchard and Sloane Stephens.

Stephens was all smiles, coming into the event as US Open champion. But she would go on to drop her first-round match to fellow American Christina McHale, 6-3, 6-0.

All the players had high praise for the event.

“It’s very nice to see that the Chinese fans really know the players and really like the players,” said Dominika Cibulkova. “So it’s nice when they even come to see our practices and they have all the pictures and everything ready.”

Sharapova added, “Culturally China has so much to offer, and I think for us players, even though ours schedules are so hectic, it’s nice to take the time and really appreciate what’s out there and explore it.”

For the WTA, the China Open is the last Premiere mandatory event of the season. It’s also the last major joint tour event of 2017.