CHENGDU, September 20, 2023 (Press Release)

After a three-year hiatus, the Chengdu Open witnessed a delightful return of Panda-monium this morning, as six ATP stars from the tournament’s main draw took time out to catch a rare glimpse of Chengdu’s beloved black and white furry ambassadors. 

This trip to the Chengdu Panda Base has evolved into a cherished tradition, eagerly anticipated by many players who grace the Chengdu Open. Among the players who took part in today’s memorable excursion were the tournament’s top seed, Alexander Zverev, along with Marcos Giron and singles wildcard Zizou Bergs. They were joined by doubles players Nicolas Barrientos, Daniel Elahi Galan and Andre Goransson. 

Today’s agenda 🐼 pic.twitter.com/OeYTfNIh4m

— Chengdu Open (@ChengduOpen) September 20, 2023

Established in 1987, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding stands as a non-profit research and breeding facility dedicated to giant pandas and other endangered species. Over the years, the base has achieved remarkable success, increasing its community of pandas from an initial six pandas to more than 200.

While the pandas were a little bit reserved this morning, the players nevertheless cherished the unique opportunity to witness these lovable creatures frolicking in their natural habitat. 

Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s top seed, who is in Chengdu for the first time, shared his thoughts: “It’s an animal that you can only see here in China so, of course, it was a nice experience. It was special to see something you can only see in this part of the world. Chengdu is a very clean city with a lot of tourist attractions as well, I’ve really enjoyed my time so far. I have a big fanbase all over China and I love coming back here. I love playing in front of them – I think they are very passionate as well. So, it’s obviously nice to be back for the first time in four years.”