Retired tennis superstar Li Na has become the global ambassador for the Wuhan Open, organizers said Tuesday.
主办单位周二宣布，已退役的网球巨星李娜成为武汉网球公开赛全球大使。
The 34-year-old's appointment was announced as the central Chinese city attempts to bring itself onto the international stage with the help of tennis, which is a popular worldwide spectator sport played by millions of recreational players.
"Li Na will visit Paris to promote the Wuhan Open and the city of Wuhan globally during the French Open in May," said Yi Guoqing, the event director of the Wuhan Open, adding that both cities have a tennis tournament and a tower as an iconic landmark - the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan.
Li, two-time Grand Slam champions, will attend the opening ceremony of this year's Wuhan Open as well as a series of promotional activities that involve children, young tennis players, fans and other tennis stars, according to Yi.
Li, who was absent at the press conference, said in a video that "I'm Li Na and I will be waiting for you at the Wuhan Open."
"My hometown Wuhan is where I started my tennis career. Tennis gives me all that I want and to tennis I would give back all that I have. Enabling more ordinary people to play and enjoy tennis will extend my tennis career and fulfill the original intention of the Wuhan Open," she said.
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