WASHINGTON, DC, USA - Zhang Shuai, one of four Chinese players in the world's Top 100, heading over to Washington DC to be the guest of honor at the 8th Annual Asian Festival ahead of the inaugural Citi Open in College Park.

Organized by the Thai Tennis Organization in America (TTOA) and with the help of many local Asian associations, the event helps introduce Asian culture and tennis and attracted over 25,000 people from the Washington DC area.

Zhang was welcomed on stage by Zigang Yang, the Minister of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, and was presented with a bouquet of flowers. She thanked the crowd in both English and Chinese before getting some photos taken with the minister as well as the President of the USTA, Jon Vegosen, in front of the Citi Open main draw, which was displayed at the event.

"Thank you for inviting me to the Asian Fesival," Zhang said. "I'm very happy to be here in Washington DC and playing tennis at the Citi Open in College Park."

At No.85 in the world Zhang is currently the No.4-ranked player in China, after No.6 Li Na, No.16 Peng Shuai and No.80 Zheng Jie. By far the youngest of the group - she turned 22 earlier this year - she first burst into prominence in 2009 with a win over then-No.1 Dinara Safina in the fall. She reached her first WTA semifinal and cracked the Top 100 in 2010 and has continued her climb this year, most notably reaching another WTA quarterfinal in Copenhagen.

Zhang opens her week on Tuesday night against No.4 seed Jelena Dokic.