Now it’s personal as WTA singles out Hong Kong tennis president Herbert Chow
US$10,000 fine was not for the tournament or its organisers but for Chow alone, insists governing body - as outspoken local official insists he won't be paying up, or shutting up
WTA executive vice-president Laurence Applebaum stressed the Women’s Tennis Association was extremely happy with the way the inaugural Prudential Hong Kong Open was run, but issued the fine for Chow’s “disparaging” remarks after Bouchard’s last-minute pull-out before the tournament last September.
READ MORE: The original story that has landed Chow in hot water
Applebaum claimed Bouchard had not even entered the tournament and had “committed no violation” which further incensed Chow, who renewed his attack on the WTA saying it “has completely ignored the interest of the HKTO and the tournament”.
Applebaum said in a letter to the HKTA council: “Please note that the WTA has not fined the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The fine is a code of conduct violation committed by Herbert Chow for the disparaging comments made as referenced in the original notice.
“The code of conduct serves as a guide for the acceptable professional behaviour of not only players, but of tournament officials and support personnel as it relates to the promotion of the positive image of women’s professional tennis.