The ATP has welcomed the new ticket options.

"Every October, Shanghai hosts the best tennis players in the world at this award-winning ATP tournament. The tennis audience in China is growing and Qi Zhong Tennis Center caters for an exceptional on-site fan experience at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Adding more sessions to the week’s schedule allows more fans the opportunity to come and enjoy the tennis. This is great news for tennis fans," said Alison Lee, the executive vice-president of the tour's International Group.

The tickets are also on sale at affordable prices. For example, an Oct 7 day ticket costs only 160 yuan ($23)－a third of the price of an original full-day ticket. Family tickets are also available this year, with a the cheapest admission for a kid costing only 50 yuan.

The Shanghai Masters is the eighth of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments on the calendar and is the only one not played in Europe or North America.

Qi Zhong Tennis Center boasts a 15,000-seat main stadium featuring a retractable roof of eight steel panels representing Shanghai's city flower, the magnolia.

Tickets are on sale now at the following websites: jusstickets.com, masters.tmall.com and www.meclub.org.