Opinion | Left field: WTA double faults with its fine for Herbert Chow
HK's tennis chief is right to cry censorship after women's body fines him for his criticism of no-show Eugenie Bouchard
It was a case of foul play for Herbert Chow Siu-lung, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association, when a letter from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) landed on his desk last week demanding that he pay US$10,000 for his "disparaging" remarks over the pullout of Eugenie Bouchard from the Hong Kong Open last September.
Why did it take the WTA so long to decide that Chow deserved a slap on the wrist?
When you look at it closely it seems to be a classic case of the WTA making a mountain out of a molehill. Its genesis was the last-minute withdrawal of Canadian hotshot Bouchard from the inaugural Hong Kong Open, which was played a week after the US Open.
Bouchard cited fatigue - she had a torrid time at the US Open, the final grand slam of the season, after making waves by reaching the semi-finals at the first two slams (the Australian and French Opens) and making the final at Wimbledon.
She had every right to pull out, but what incensed Chow was that despite being told to take rest, the Canadian star posted photos of herself at a baseball game in New York a few days later. Chow laid into her, saying she did not "honour her agreement" and "keep her word" of turning up in Hong Kong. He said it was very unprofessional of her.
