We were bitterly disappointed when we heard that Shanghai was to lose the Tennis Masters Cup, a competition which brings together the top eight players in the world, to London. And disappointment made way for disgust when we heard that all we were getting in return was the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, a competition which brings together the top eight players in the world and then the next best 48 for good measure… Saythewhatnow? Yup, that’s right it’s mock the cockney time as we’ve traded a seven-day, evening-only, 30-match competition for an eight-day, all-day, 99-match extravaganza. Here’s the lowdown...

The tournament is the eighth leg of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, a series of nine tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, held annually throughout the year in Europe, North America and, as of Shanghai 2009, Asia. 

It’s difficult to explain. Since I was young I dreamed of winning that trophy. You know, I realized my dream, and it was an unbelievable moment. When I lay down on the floor, many things came into my mind. First my family and my friends and everything. I don’t know how I can explain it, because it was my dream - my dream done. It was the best sensation ever in my life.

I will be in the history of that tournament, and that’s amazing for me. But yeah, I have new opportunities and other Grand Slams to win, because if I did it there - if I beat Nadal, Federer and many other good players - maybe I can do it more times.

A sporting, rip-snorting good time is also on offer to Shanghai high society this month in the form of the 2009 Royal Salute Polo Gold Cup, dubbed ‘For Honour & Glory’ – following on from the previous two years’ events ‘The Sport of Kings and the King of Sports’ and ‘The Knights of Nobility’ (suffice to say the great unwashed aren’t exactly encouraged to get involved).

 

For those of you who haven’t seen Pretty Woman, polo is a sport in which two teams of four exceedingly posh people wielding long mallets (manau cane shaft, tipa wood head, don’t you know) mount a ‘string of ponies’ – each player has a number of horses that are switched between playing periods, known as ‘chukkas’ – and gallop around a 300-yard-long field attempting to whack a small white ball into eight-foot-wide goals. 

Into watersports? No, not that kind. We’re thinking more along the lines of surfing. And yes, you can surf in China. The weekend of 6 November will see the second Hainan Open. Since the huge success of the first competition the event has grown rapidly and picked up awesome sponsors Quicksilver, Source and Icon X. The entry fee is a bargain at RMB500 including bus transport to and from Sanya, two nights twin-share accommodation in Riyuewan, and three meals over the two-day contest period, as well as prize giving and participant pack. Heats are open to both male and female competitors of all skill levels in the shortboard, longboard and bodyboard surfing categories. Or you could just go and watch?