Andy Murray won the China Open finals for men. (Photo : Getty Images)
Scottish tennis player Andy Murray finished the China Open championships in the men's division by defeating Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.
Tennis association CEO Steve Simon observed the enthusiasm for the game as well as the increasing number of international events in China.
He said, "I've been very impressed with my first official trip to China by the commitment to tennis here. I think there is a growing passion for the sport in this country, and to me, that's very exciting. I see a very bright future."
China, in 2016, has hosted many local tennis events as well as 11 tournaments sponsored by the World Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Players.
Angelique Kerber, the top-ranked tennis player from Germany, said "You recognize that there are many more things coming here. It's definitely not bad. It's nice that here you have a really great infrastructure and the interest keeps growing. This is what is really great for us to see."
Simon predicted that with the China Open, another Li Na will be in the offing.
He said, "I think Chinese tennis is still relatively new to player development. You've had a Li without the (player cultivation) program that you have in place right now. So again, as the game becomes more popular and the development continues to evolve toward more professionalism, I can guarantee you will have another Li coming through. It's not if, it's when."
Dianne Hayes, vice-president of international affairs for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, said that the world of tennis will be opening a lot of opportunities for Chinese tennis players.
"China is poised for that growth. You have wonderful coaching, and with the opportunities that the Chinese Tennis Association and local tournaments present in terms of wild cards, it will open up so many doors for Chinese players to succeed and thrive professionally," she said.
