Chinese grand slam doubles champion Yan Zi comes out of retirement to help organise Hong Kong Tennis Open

Two years after her retirement, China's tennis grand slam doubles champion Yan Zi is back in the game - not as a player, but as assistant tournament director for next month's Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.

Yan, who made history by winning doubles titles at the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships with childhood friend Zheng Jie, is helping to raise the tournament's profile.

"Last year, I was in the spectator stand to support Zheng when she came to play," Yan said at a "Tennis Fun Fun Fun" promotional event organised by the Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA) at a shopping mall. "I have been a full-time housewife ever since announcing my retirement.

WATCH: Yan Zi show off her skills to promote the game among children  

"A few months ago, the HKTA contacted me and asked if I could help organise the tournament. They wanted ideas from a player's perspective, as I know what players want more than other people." Yan, who married a Hongkonger in 2009 and is now a mother of two, will attend to all the players' needs.

She said her new role brought her a different insight to how tournaments are run. "I came [to this mall] to promote the competition and at the same time, to attract more parents to bring their kids and start playing tennis," she said.