LONDON, June 26 /PRNewswire/ --

Wimbledon is no stranger to high exposure events and celebrities from all
trades. On 20:00 of this easy summer evening on 25th of June, while London
continues with its legendary Grand Slam, key officials from the Beijing
Government, senior WTA leadership and some of the most glamorous professional
tennis players, as well as the China Open team, are celebrating the start of
another milestone that shapes world professional tennis -- The China Open's
new sanction that puts Beijing as one of the four Crown Jewel events in the
WTA global tournaments structure.

The China Open is a key component in Beijing's post-Olympic development
strategy.

With a mere 3-year experience in professional international tennis
tournaments, the China Open has demonstrated its capabilities in making big
leaps in delivering quality improvements. The Crown Jewel is not then just a
reward for the hard work, but will no doubt boosting the city's unprecedented
enthusiasm and commitments.

"Tonight is a celebration of our friendship and shared vision for the
sport of women's tennis," said the Chairman of the SE WTA, Mr. Larry Scott,
who showed great acknowledgement and support towards the forthcoming Crown
Jewel event in Beijing. The SE WTA is also steadily pursuing its strategy in
shaping Beijing into one of the world's capital cities of tennis, and, "I am
confident that our partnership will achieve everything that we set out to
do," stated Mr. Larry Scott.

Representing players and the SE WTA Player Council, multiple Grand Slam
winner Madame Mary Pierce said that, "The China Open has already established
a reputation as a fantastic event, and I am sure that beginning in 2009 we
will all be amazed with the even greater heights that the event will reach."
She further commented that, "Tennis is a truly global sport and Beijing and
China are among the brightest stars as we look to continue to grow women's
tennis globally."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070626/CNTU013 )

Accompanied by the Chinese double's champion Ms. Yan Zi, the Head Coach
of the Chinese Women's Tennis Team, Mr. Jiang Hongwei, participated in the
celebrations on behalf of the China Tennis Association and its Vice
Chairwoman Madam Sun Jinfang. He stressed in his greetings that, "the CTA 
will continue to use its best efforts to support the China Open and firmly 
believe in a fast growing China Open."

Mr. Sun Kanglin, Deputy Secretary General of the Beijing Government
stated in his key note speech that, "the forth coming China Open Crown Jewel
will undoubtedly provide to all the partners of the city unparalleled
opportunities. The City of Beijing has been supporting the China Open during
the past and will provide its full and continuous assistance and support
towards the Tournament in the future."

Madame Mary Pierce brought additional surprise to the Celebration by
presenting one of her used and signed rackets to the Head of the Senior
Beijing Government Delegation to the China Open Celebration, Senior
Consultant to the Beijing Government Madame Lv Xiwen. Madame Pierce expressed
that she would like to take the advantage of the gesture to once again
present to the China Open the commitments and supports from all of the WTA
players.

Many of the tournament directors of the SE WTA Tour participated in the
Celebration to congratulate the China Open new Crown Jewel and extended their
sincere support for the future development of the China Open.

Minister Councillor Mr. Ke Yasha and Councillor Mr. Wu Xun, from the
Chinese Embassy in London, also presented at the Celebration. Celebrities
from the Senior Beijing Government Delegation also included Head of the
Volunteer Department of the Beijing Olympic Committee Mr. Liu Jian, Head of
Beijing's Chaoyang District Mr. Chen Gang, Head of Beijing's Shijingshan
District Mr. Wu Maofei, Deputy Director General of the Beijing Sports Bureau
Mr. Li Jingkang, and Deputy Director General of the Beijing Fiscal
Administration Madame Wu Sufang.