Auto Special: Mercedes-Benz joins Li Na, other top players at the China Open

Fans of both tennis and Mercedes-Benz sedans are set for a good autumn in Beijing.

High-culture aficionados will be offered the joy of cheering for Li Na in her first competition at home since becoming China's first Grand Slam champion along with the luxury carmaker's latest and most popular models, all on show at the 2011 China Open from Sept 25 to Oct 9.

The renowned automaker just signed on as the presenting sponsor of the highest-level professional tennis tournament in China for the fifth time.

In addition to helping fund the event, Sino-German joint venture Beijing-Benz Automobile Co Ltd is also providing sedans as official vehicles for the China Open Organizing Committee.

"As one of the leading luxury brands in the Chinese market, making contributions to the development of the nation's tennis and sport is one of the company's commitments," said Cai Suping, senior executive vice-president of the Beijing-Benz.

Joining Li at the National Tennis Center, a facility built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will be world No 1 men's and women's players Novac Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki.

Other top players scheduled to compete include Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Robin Soderling and Juan Carlos Ferrero.

In addition to supporting the China Open, the carmaker also sponsors the Mercedes-Benz Cup Tennis Grand Prix featuring top Chinese players.

In 2008, Mercedes-Benz also became the "Premier Sponsor" of the Chinese National Tennis Team as well as a strategic partner with the Chinese Tennis Association.

The company is also running programs to find and train the stars of tomorrow through its Swing for the Stars and university tennis programs that provide professional coaching.

Mercedes-Benz was a driving force in bringing the ATP Tour to China, which it has sponsored since 1996.

In June, Li became the first Chinese global brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz after she won the 2011 French Open singles title.

For the next three years, Li will also be the brand ambassador for "Tomorrow's Star," a training program to develop more skilled young Chinese tennis players.

"I am happy for this cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and really looking forward to my ambassadorial role," said Li. "I hope that through our concerted efforts we will be able to spread the joy of tennis as well as Mercedes-Benz's brand values of 'fascination, responsibility and perfection,' and in so doing, encourage more people to take up the sport," she said.

Many tennis lovers in China are well-off and have a taste for the good life, which is exactly what Mercedes Benz offers locals with its long wheelbase E-class sedans for senior fans and sporty C-class for younger generations.

The carmaker's support for tennis is made possible due to its sound performance in China.

In 2010, Beijing-Benz sold more than 50,000 vehicles, 35 percent of the brand's total sales in the country.

The joint venture expects to sell 80,000 cars this year, a 60 percent increase over 2010.

"The sporty gene is deeply rooted in the trident - Mercedes-Benz's logo," said company executives.