As play begins at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, the tournament’s top players sat down to talk about the Asian Swing, how they stay motivated, the success of the Wuhan Open, and the game’s newest breakout star, Naomi Osaka. This is what we learned:

Now in its fifth year, the Wuhan Open keeps getting better. From facilities, to hotel, to player hospitality, Wuhan is a stop the players look forward to.“I feel it's getting better, more well-organized. From the feedback of players and coaches, they really like this tournament. That is why the top players are willing to come back to compete in this tournament,” said Chinese No. 2 Zhang Shuai, who’s reached the second round in each of the last two years. “I think I played well here before, so it's nice to be back here in Wuhan… The tournament definitely improved a lot. It's very, very nice... Everything is organized pretty well. So I'm very happy to be here,” commented 2014 Wuhan Open semifinalist Elina Svitolina. “It's amazing how the time flies, that it's fifth anniversary of the tournament. It's pretty impress how everything is going here. They are still trying something new. They have a beautiful center court. It's just great to kind of be here, play here. The conditions are very nice. The people that are working for the tournament, as well,” added two-time Wuhan Open champion Petra Kvitova. 

Li Na’s presence still looms large in Wuhan.Even years into retirement, the global ambassador for the Wuhan Open is still very much a part of the tennis landscape.“Every time I see Li Na, I feel excited. Li Na is my role model. I look up to her as an athlete. She is the pride of China as well as Asia,” said Shuai who partnered Li Na at the 2012 Summer Olympics and played an exhibition match with the megastar on Sunday. “I'm always very excited to be able to play with her. Every time I see her, I want to talk with her… Whenever I meet with her, I hope and I wish a happy life for her.” Kvitova is also looking forward to chatting up her friend: “[I] need to ask her how she is, how the kids are, if they are behaving well, listens to mom. But she's a great person. Always I will have the best memories of her.” The Czech star added about her own connection to Wuhan: “I think I'm sister, like, of everyone, of Li Na, of Wuhan. I'm not really looking Chinese, but... from the first tournament we played here, I just felt great here.”

In this final part of the year, motivation is extra important. It’s been a long year, with lots of tournaments played. But with a lot of points (and prize money) on the table, especially in Asia in the next few weeks, it’ll be the woman with the right balance of motivation and stamina who stands to be richly rewarded.“I think physically we are all very fit athletes, we are able to do it,” said last year’s winner of the rare China Double in Wuhan and Beijing, Caroline Garcia. “You have to be ready and to fight your way until the end. You know, mentally it's the last goal of the season, and you can reach some great goals. So I think if you don't have motivation here, you will never have it.” World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki added: “I think you just have to kind of try to find a goal, whether it's trying to win the tournament, whether it's qualifying for the year-end championships, whatever you may think. You just have to really stay focused on the task.” While some come in tired, Kvitova feels having fun has contributed to her stellar results in Wuhan: “I know it's always end of the season and everybody is tired, everybody has something. But I'm always kind of enjoying the time here. Probably that's why it's seeing on the results, as well.” Simona Halep who’s aiming to finish as year-end No. 1 for the second year in a row added: “It's really tough to want more to win matches, to play every day, but also it's a big challenge. So who is going to make a big result is strong.”

It surprised absolute no one that Naomi Osaka would win a Slam.Even though the breakout star had to withdraw from Wuhan with a viral illness, the players had nothing but well wishes for her.“She was always able to do these things because she's a very good player. Her mental is strong. Even if she's young, she has many good things in her mind and also body. She has power,” remarked Halep. “It was a great performance for her, for all the tournaments. Like, she killed everyone,” added Garcia. “I always knew that she's a great player. She has that, you know, different game, I would say. She's very powerful. She can strike the ball really, really good on the run, from the middle of the court. She has the game,” commented world No. 6 Elina Svitolina. “I saw her playing in the finals. She played really great. I think she really showed a high level of tennis. She deserved to win,” said fellow first-time Grand Slam winner Caroline Wozniacki.

To see the top women in action at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, visit: www.wuhanopen.org and www.4008702014.com