The head of women's tennis is more than willing to take a backseat to Chinese star Li Na as the Wuhan native's impact on the game's growth in the Asia-Pacific region continues to grow.

Canada's Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association, said her influence in business matters was less important than Li's trailblazing role on the court, inspiring the whole region's interest in the game.

"Li is much more powerful than I am, absolutely," Allaster told China Daily during the recent China Open.