The 2016 Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai opened with a flowery theme at Zhuhai’s Hengqin International Tennis Center on Nov 1.

The organizers thought out of the box and named match groups after popular flowers, integrating Chinese culture, Zhuhai’s excellent environment and the vigor and charm of women’s tennis. 

The 12 singles players are divided into four groups: named Azalea, Camellia, Peony, and Rose. The four seeded players Johanna Konta, Carla Suarez Navarro, Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina lead the groups.

The doubles are classified into Lotus led by the top-seeded pair of Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja and Slovenian Andreja Klepac, and Orchid headed by second-seeded Chinese Xu Yifan and Ukrainian Olga Savchuk. 

Petra Kvitova and Zhang Shuai at the draw ceremony [Photo by Wu Changfu / Zhuhai Daily]

China’s Zhang Shuai and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova participated in the draw ceremony on Oct 31.

A wild card entry, Zhang Shuai, is in the Camellia group with Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro and famous Swiss player Timea Bacsinszky, both of whom she has faced at Wimbledon. 

The WTA is also offering a stage for new talent. The promising pair Yang Zhaoxuan and You Xiaodi are to challenge some veterans, including top-seeded Arantxa Parra Santonja and Andreja Klepac.

Zhang Shuai and Timea Bacsinszky opened the first game at 3 pm, followed by Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands; Elina Svitolina, a young Ukrainian star; Roberta Vinci, a 2015 US Open finalist; and Czech star Barbora Strycova.