From courtside injury assessments to post-match recovery, Parkway Shanghai and Gleneagles Hong Kong brought together medical teams from Shanghai and Hong Kong to support this year's tournament.

A tennis match can change in seconds. One awkward landing, a sudden turn or a sharp movement can leave a player struggling to continue. While spectators focus on the next point, a medical team may already be preparing to step onto the court.

At the 2026 Rolex Shanghai Masters, medical support went beyond treating injuries at the tournament's medical centre. Doctors needed to assess players courtside, make quick decisions about treatment and coordinate with other medical professionals when further care was needed.

This year, Parkway Shanghai and Gleneagles Hong Kong worked together under their parent group, IHH Healthcare North Asia, bringing medical professionals from both cities to support the two-week tournament. Their combined expertise covered emergency medicine, cardiology, internal medicine, general practice and family medicine, alongside rehabilitation support from Parkway Shanghai.

When an Injury Happens, Every Minute Matters

Muscle strains were among the most common injuries encountered during the tournament. In one case, a player suffered a calf muscle strain. After receiving the alert at the tournament medical centre, Dr William Wong, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Gleneagles Hong Kong, went directly to the court to assess the player and provide acute care and pain relief.

It's the kind of situation that requires more than a doctor arriving quickly. The medical team needs to assess the injury, determine the next steps and make sure further treatment is available if necessary.

According to Dr Warren Ho, a physician at Parkway Shanghai, the tournament's medical support system involves several teams working together: the ATP's official medical team, the local medical team working with the tournament organisers, and an off-site emergency response and referral network.

By 15 October, the teams had handled nearly 100 cases involving players and tournament staff. Medical teams also held briefings every morning to review cases, share experiences and refine their response procedures throughout the tournament.

Parkway Shanghai has supported the Rolex Shanghai Masters since 2023, giving its team several years of experience with the event's operations, venue logistics and medical requirements. Its doctors and rehabilitation professionals have also worked at other sporting events, including squash, basketball and vertical running competitions.

Gleneagles Hong Kong brings experience from Hong Kong's sporting scene. One of its emergency medicine specialists served as team physician for the Hong Kong, China delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and is scheduled to support the delegation again at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan.

The Work Doesn't Stop When Players Leave the Court

For professional tennis players, recovery is part of the competition. After an intense match, stretching and muscle relaxation can help ease tension and support recovery before the next round.

Parkway Shanghai's rehabilitation team provided post-match stretching and muscle relaxation support during the tournament, helping players manage muscle tightness and recover after high-intensity play.

Behind the scenes, the Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration also connected on-site care with a wider range of clinical resources. Depending on the situation, medical support can involve immediate assessment, further diagnostic investigations, specialist referrals, hospital transfers or rehabilitation.

For a tournament running across multiple days, that coordination matters just as much as the initial response. Medical teams need to be ready for unexpected injuries while maintaining consistent support throughout a demanding schedule.

More Than Medical Support: A Chance to Talk About Sports Health

The tournament also offered an opportunity to bring conversations about sports safety and injury prevention to spectators.

IHH Healthcare North Asia set up an on-site booth to introduce its healthcare services and share information about sports health and injury prevention. Alex Fong, the group's wellness ambassador and a former member of the Hong Kong swimming team, joined medical professionals and players to discuss exercise, recovery and health management.

Fong also took part in an interactive serve-speed challenge, using the activity to encourage visitors to think about safe, science-based exercise.

For recreational players, the lessons extend beyond professional tennis. Knowing your physical limits, warming up properly, paying attention to pain and allowing enough time for recovery can all help reduce the risk of sports injuries. When an injury does occur, recognising when to stop and seek medical advice is equally important.

Connecting Medical Expertise Across Shanghai and Hong Kong

The tournament is also an example of how IHH Healthcare North Asia draws on its medical resources across the two cities.

Parkway Shanghai has operated in Shanghai for more than 20 years. Its network includes Parkway Shanghai Hospital, medical clinics and an ambulatory care centre, with services spanning more than 40 specialties and a team of local and international medical professionals.

In Hong Kong, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong is a teaching hospital affiliated with The University of Hong Kong Health System. It works with university clinical teams on medical care, research and the introduction of new treatments and technologies.

By combining the experience of both teams, IHH Healthcare North Asia aims to strengthen coordination between its Shanghai and Hong Kong operations, while supporting major sporting events and promoting greater awareness of injury prevention and proactive health management.

At a tournament where the action moves quickly and every point counts, having a medical team ready on the sidelines is one part of what keeps the competition moving.