Sports
22:21, 24-Sep-2017
Li Na, Kuznetsova on hand to raise curtain at 2017 Wuhan Open
["china"]
Share
Copied
The 2017 Wuhan Open got underway in grand fashion on Sunday evening with an opening ceremony held at center court in the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in Wuhan, China.
Hometown star player and national treasure Li Na was joined by 8th seed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova at the ceremony.
China's Li Na (4th R) and other retired Chinese tennis players greet the spectators ahead of the opening ceremony for 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
China's Li Na (4th R) and other retired Chinese tennis players greet the spectators ahead of the opening ceremony for 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Li Na had some advice for Chinese youngsters who might be inspired by the events in Wuhan. She urged them to take up a racket for themselves, saying that if they loved the sport, they should "just go for it" and not hesitate to chase their dreams.
Kuznetsova, in Wuhan for her fourth outing after reaching the semifinals last year, said that it was always an honor for her to play in the city, and praised what she called a "very well-organized event."
The ceremony began with a modern dance interpretation of traditional Chinese kung-fu, punctuated by massive projections of the slogan for this year's event: "Come on! Wuhan Open."
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The proceedings then turned to showcase the ancient history of the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, including a traditional dance complete with drummers playing in sync and female dancers held aloft as they moved to the rhythm of the music.
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, Sept. 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The Wuhan Open was inaugurated in 2014 and is set to run until 2028. Wuhan, along with Montreal, Rome, Cincinnati, and Doha, is counted among the "Premier 5" events on the WTA circuit.
The event carries a total prize pot of 2.4 million US dollars, and awards the winner 900 WTA points.
1055km
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency