French Open to stage juniors' playoff in Beijing

The French Open championships will bring its inaugural juniors' wildcard playoff and a trophy tour to Beijing, aiming to boost the Grand Slam tournament's popularity in China.

Junior tennis talents in China started to dream of winning at Roland Garros after their senior role model Li Na claimed her first Grand Slam title there in 2011.

The host of a local tournament for wildcards into the main draw of the boys' and girls' championships of the French Open has now provided a path to realizing their dreams.

Held at the National Tennis Center from March 27 to 30, the tournament will attract 12 promising juniors under 18 for both the male and female singles events to compete for two wildcard berths in the main draw held in Paris in June.

The trophies of the French Open's men's and women's singles champions, La Coupe des Mousquetaires and La Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, will be shipped to Beijing on March 26 and be on public display at the Great Wall, the National Stadium, the Forbidden City and courtside at the wildcard event final during a three-day tour.