The first-ever China Tennis Open is being held Friday in Beijing at the newly built Beijing Tennis Center which features a 10 thousand seat center court and an additional 15 smaller match courts.

The tournament will include competitions for ATP and WTA players, ITF junior players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, reported China Radio International Friday.     

The 16-day event has attracted big names including French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon title-holder Maria Sharapova, and 14-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.     

China's Olympic doubles champion Li Ting and Sun Tiantian have also confirmed their participation.     

The Open will be televised by CCTV. Over 600,000 fans are expected to attend the event.

(CRI September 10, 2004)