How Li Na and the $225 million Wuhan Open took on the world

    By Danielle Rossingh, for CNN

    Updated 1422 GMT (2222 HKT) September 24, 2016

    The Wuhan Open in Hubei province, central China, has spent 1.5 billion yuan ($225 million) on its facilities since its inception in 2014.
    Photos: China's tennis ambition
    The Wuhan Open in Hubei province, central China, has spent 1.5 billion yuan ($225 million) on its facilities since its inception in 2014.
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    Last year, the city's most famous resident, two-time grand slam winner Li Na, opened the tournament's new 1 billion yuan center court. Here the Chinese tennis star is pictured with Martina Hingis during a promotional event in Wuhan in 2015.
    Photos: China's tennis ambition
    Last year, the city's most famous resident, two-time grand slam winner Li Na, opened the tournament's new 1 billion yuan center court. Here the Chinese tennis star is pictured with Martina Hingis during a promotional event in Wuhan in 2015.
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    Night sessions at the 2016 Wuhan Open will start an hour later to give fans more opportunity to attend in the evening.
    Photos: China's tennis ambition
    Night sessions at the 2016 Wuhan Open will start an hour later to give fans more opportunity to attend in the evening.
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    Modeled on the Australian Open venue, Wuhan's main stadium court has a retractable roof and is big as Wimbledon's Centre Court with space for 15,000 tennis fans. Li and two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova attended last year's opening ceremony of the Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
    Photos: China's tennis ambition
    Modeled on the Australian Open venue, Wuhan's main stadium court has a retractable roof and is big as Wimbledon's Centre Court with space for 15,000 tennis fans. Li and two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova attended last year's opening ceremony of the Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
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    A superstar in China, Li became a global ambassador for her hometown event in May of this year. Here she takes a selfie with fans during a tennis masterclass last year.
    Photos: China's tennis ambition
    A superstar in China, Li became a global ambassador for her hometown event in May of this year. Here she takes a selfie with fans during a tennis masterclass last year.
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