Tennis stars to hit China

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Marat Safin are among a number of top names who will appear in the inaugural China Open.

16:41 27 July 2004

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Marat Safin are among a number of top names who will appear in the inaugural China Open.

Russian Wimbledon winner Sharapova has agreed to take part in the event due to take place this September and will undoubtedly bring much publicity to China's first ever tennis tournament.

And beaten Wimbledon finalist Williams, who has six grand slams to her name, ensures that the women's field will be of the highest quality in Beijing.

The men's tournament also boasts an impressive line-up with Safin joined by another former world number one in the form of Carlos Moya, as well as Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan.

China's brand new tennis centre has 15 hard courts and can accommodate 600,000 people over the course of the event, due to take place between September 10th and 26th.

State broadcaster CCTV is hoping to make the tournament the most watched domestic competition in tennis history, stating they expect to attract 700 million viewers.