All eyes on junior French Open event

The French Open men's and women's singles trophies were on display in Shanghai ahead of the 2015 French Open Junior Wild Cards Competition which started yesterday. (Photo: Shanghai Daily/Dong Jun)

With China's best-known tennis star Li Na no longer in the game, tennis officials will be hoping that the 2015 French Open Junior Wild Cards Competition in Shanghai will throw up some names.

Li Na, who retired last year, brought home the French Open trophy in 2011 — her first grand slam title — that gave a massive impetus to the sport in China. She was also the first and only grand slam singles champion from Asia.

Prior to her big breakthrough, the Chinese Tennis Federation had reached a deal with the Federation Francaise de Tennis in 2010 to train budding young Chinese talents as well as Chinese coaches. Moreover, they would help build more clay courts in China, besides offering technical and material support.