Off the court, WTA teamed up with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last year to help raise the status of women. Scott said he hoped the event could spark social change for women in China.

"The fact our top players play here sends a very strong and powerful signal about the progressiveness of some of those places that I think is inspiring social change," Scott said.

"Our sport is a reflection of where society is at around the world in terms of some of these social issues, but it's also a catalyst for further effecting social change."

"Given the success of China's women's players, girls' participation in tennis is much more advanced than many other countries, but I believe there are still some places we can improve."

Combined Event

Scott said the men's and women's professional tennis tours will decide next month whether to merge their new top-level tournaments in China into one event.

Financial hub Shanghai will host an ATP Masters series tournament from the same season.

The tours are discussing the possibility of bringing the events together for a mixed tournament held in alternate years in the two cities.

"We all go to the second phase to decide how to coordinate, we will decide it within the next month," said Scott. "For grand slams and crown jewel events we want to see men and women play together."

Scott said merging the events was just one option being considered, while a Beijing sports bureau official said it would be "difficult".

"There are many difficulties in marketing, organizing and sponsors," said Mu Dawei, deputy chief of Beijing Sports Bureau.

"If we fail to merge with Shanghai, we will apply for an ATP tournament instead."

The upgraded WTA China Open in Beijing will have at least $4 million prize money, will be mandatory for the top 50 players in the world and will be played in the first week of October.

Shanghai's new Masters Series event will be the first and only ATP top-tier event in Asia.

Agencies contributed to the story.