Slovenian doubles player Andreja Klepac (left) greets a dolphin under the guidance of a caretaker. [Photos provided to China Daily] 

As one of China's most livable metropolises, the coastal city of Zhuhai has emerged as a major host for international sports events in South China after staging the 2015 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Elite Trophy tournament.

Elite-level performances and world-class services at a cutting-edge tennis center offered people a taste of the Grand Slam atmosphere during the inaugural Zhuhai tournament, which concluded on November 8, 2015.

American veteran Venus Williams claimed the singles crown, and Chinese partners Liang Chen and Wang Yafan won the doubles.

As the last mandatory event on the WTA Tour, the Zhuhai tournament attracted 12 singles stars, including 11 ranked in the top 30, and six elite doubles pairs to compete in a round-robin group stage and then a knockout phase. The total purse was $2.15 million.

Zhuhai’s organizers started from scratch a year ago after winning the bid to host the event from 2015 to 2019.

"Pressure came from the short time frame, but we've done an amazing job to run a great tournament with a unique personality of a comfortable, classy and contemporary taste," said tournament director Peter Johnston, who was formerly managing director in the Asia-Pacific for the WTA Tour.

Managed by the state-owned Zhuhai Huafa Group, the preparation work and smooth operation overseen by Johnston is said to have impressed players, officials and media from around the world.

"The venue is really beautiful, first-class, one of the nicest we've seen in the world," said WTA president Micky Lawler. "The team has done a good job, and the event was well organized. The players were welcomed. Every aspect of the organization, we feel, is truly first-class."

Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai has been recognized as China's Most Livable City by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. And now, the successful delivery of the WTA tournament has contributed to the city’s image and will lead to more sports events with cutting-edge facilities.

"The experience gained through hosting the tournament, and the infrastructure in place, will help us to land more events in the future," said Long Guangyan, deputy mayor of Zhuhai.

Among the tournament highlights, the best was arguably the ability to build the 68,000 sq m, 5,000-seat Hengqin International Tennis Center in just eight months in Hengqin New Area, which is adjacent to Macao, before a test event in October.

The organizers also hosted a welcoming party, at which the players dressed formally and enjoyed fine wines and live music.

"It was another beautiful job, and a nice surprise with the violinist," said seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams. "The enthusiasm for the tournament you can see in the whole city, from the preparation to how everything is set up. It makes the players feel very welcome and appreciated."

Chung Mezle, executive director of Huafa Cultural Tourism Industry Development Co, said, "We just wanted the players to feel comfortable and inspired to play at their best by providing them the best possible facilities, beautiful environment, and warm service."

In addition to a hefty investment by Huafa Group, Hengqin New Area also injected nearly 400 million yuan ($62.8 million) to upgrade the urban infrastructure and guarantee quality transport links, power supplies, and logistics.

Johnston was confident the costs would be recouped through marketing initiatives.

"The pressure continues over the years to create a healthy financial status, so we have to be relevant in other markets to create opportunities for global partners to see that this is a good investment," he said.

The event lured domestic and international brands as sponsors, including Huajin Securities, Peak Sport, USANA and Babolat.

Zhuhai already hosts the annual Zhuhai Half Marathon and the Pan Delta Motor Racing Festival, and the city plans to introduce an international sailing regatta to diversify its sports agenda.

Boasting more than 30 years of sports management experience, Johnston envisions that Zhuhai's proximity to Macao and Hong Kong geographically and culturally will cement its position as a hub for more global sporting events.

"It will be one of the great tennis destinations, or for sports in general, in the world because you can accommodate all types of players in a city that is very accessible," the Australian added.