As an emerging destination of professional tennis, China now hosts more than 10 professional tournaments on the Women's Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Professionals circuit on a tight schedule each fall, thanks to Li's influence.

With tennis riding the momentum to become popular in China, the governing body is committed to providing more grassroots clinics and professional exposure for young players to progress on the right track, said Liu Wenbin, secretary general of CTA.

"We are trying to build a national system featuring competition for all age groups, player and coach development programs, and international exchanges to encourage more children to play and help them grow effectively," he said.