Chinese-speaking umpires bring the house down

Foreign umpires at the China Open have been unintentionally entertaining the crowds and earning hearty applause with their attempts at pidgin Chinese.

Some of the officials, who come from a range of countries, are using very basic Chinese for the first time at the Beijing tournament to give instructions to the ball boys, ball girls and unruly spectators.

Among the words they have learnt is the equivalent of towel to remind the ball boys and girls when players need a wipedown and then saying "xiexie" (thank you).