Li Na hailed as driving force of women's tennis
WTA chief points to China star's massive impact as they seek to expand further in Asia
Women's Tennis Association chief Stacey Allaster hailed Li Na's rise as a key factor behind the growth of women's tennis in Asia as the next generation of Chinese players follow in the grand slam winner's footsteps.
Li's 2011 French Open victory made her the first Asian to win a grand slam singles title and spiked interest in China, a country always a prioritised growth market for sports bodies.
Zhang Shuai became the fifth Chinese woman to win a WTA title at the Guangzhou Open on Saturday.
"The athlete that will make the greatest impact on the growth of women's tennis in this decade," Allaster said of Li yesterday. "You can have a strategy with multi-thronged pillars but you need the stars and Li is obviously our star here in Asia.
"She is obviously taking all those pillars of the business strategy and dialling them up because women's tennis is getting noticed and she is inspiring the ones that are right behind her. 'If Li can do it, I can do it' - confidence breeds success."
Allaster said a huge chunk of their fans were coming from China, where the WTA will have eight events next year, up from two in 2008. The former tournament director, who assumed the role of CEO and chairman of the WTA in July 2009, said role models were key.
