IMG Worldwide, the leading sports, entertainment and media client management company has added Li Na, the number one tennis player for China and Asia, to its roster of international stars.

The company, which has significantly increased its presence in China in recent years, will represent Na as she spearheads the sport’s growth in her native country.

Na, a native of Wuhan, Hubei, China, started playing tennis when she was nine and in 1998 won the prestigious Asian Youth Cup. She began her professional career in 1999, and in 2006 became the first Chinese player to reach the Top 30 and then the Top 20.

At Wimbledon 2006, she became the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam singles quarter final. She attained her highest world ranking - 16 - in 2007. One of the highlights of her career came last year, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where she reached the semifinals, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova and Venus Willams. Most recently, the 27-year-old reached the quarter finals in the US Open Tennis tournament in New York.

"We are very pleased to have Li Na as an IMG client," said IMG senior vice president Max Eisenbud, who will manage Na.

"She has been one of the most successful players in China's history and in 2009 became Asia and China's number one player with a world ranking of 18. She has been largely hailed as being instrumental in advancing the sport within China."

Fernando Soler, head of global tennis at IMG, added: "Li Na is a very talented athlete with tremendous potential, we are thrilled she has chosen IMG to represent her. Her signing further demonstrates IMG's commitment in China and our belief that Asia is maybe one of the dramatic growth areas for the next generation of tennis superstars who will be able to compete for the world’s biggest championships."

IMG represents some of the world's top tennis players, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams.