Since Li Na announced her retirement from tennis, China has started its quest to find the next player who can replace the country's most successful tennis player. A tennis academy in Beijing is aiming to develop the next great crop of Chinese tennis players after the two-time grand slam champion Li.

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China Daily reported that Yi Ping, a former professional tennis player and founder of 1123 Junior Tennis Academy, is optimistic that her school has the ability to produce world class players because of the school's new training model for the sport.

"My goal is to bring up the next 'Li Na' for China," Yi said.

Identifying with her frustration of not being able to accomplish great things in tennis, Yi said that she wants to train junior players to become top-class players. The aspiring tennis players aged 18 and below were asked to sign contracts with the academy, which will provide benefits such as having them join tennis tournaments and competition without having to pay a single dollar. The academy will shoulder all the expenses not only for tournaments, but also for training sessions too.

One of China's leading insurance companies, Ping An, is the academy's main sponsor. Sports apparel manufacturers Nike and Babolat provide the clothing and equipment for the young players.

Right now, there are seven girls enrolled at the academy. The girls undergo practice session for six hours every day and they only get one and a half days off from training. The academy has eight coaches spearheaded by 63-year-old Argentine Francisco Mastelli. Other coaches include former professional tennis players Zeng Shaoxuan and Zhang Jie.

Legacy Of Li Na In Chinese Tennis

Li is the most successful tennis player hailed from China. She achieved her career-high singles rank as World No. 2 on Feb. 17, 2014 after she won the 2014 Australian Open, her second grand slam title in her career. She won her first major title at the Roland Garros in 2011.

Li has won nine WTA titles and 19 ITF titles. Aside from her two grand slam trophies at the Australian Open and French Open, her results in major tournaments include a three-time quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon (2006, 2010, and 2013) and one semifinal appearance at the US Open (2013).

The 33-year-old Wuhan native announced her retirement from the sport via a post on her official Facebook account on Sept. 19, 2014. Li was ranked as World No. 6 when she bid farewell to tennis. 

Tagstennis, li na, tennis academy, yi ping, Nike, babolat