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

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    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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