Hong Kong Tennis Association outrage at WTA's 'bullying tactics'

The Hong Kong Tennis Open will be US$10,000 in the red even before a ball is hit in October.

In the latest development in the row , the Women's Tennis Association said that since Chow had ignored calls for the fine to be paid, the HKTA would now incur the penalty.

The switch has enraged the HKTA, which says "there is no provision in the code of conduct which permits the WTA to transfer a fine from one person to another" and it "is against due process and natural justice".

Courtney McBride, senior counsel for the WTA, said in an email sent to the HKTA: "Had Mr Chow timely paid his fine, we would not have had to assess it against the tournament. If not paid by the HKTA or Mr Chow, our only recourse is to offset the fine from any future amounts owing to the tournament from the WTA."

Chow was deemed to have violated the WTA's code of conduct after claiming Canadian hotshot Bouchard did not "honour her agreement" and "keep her word" when she pulled out at the last minute from last year's tournament.

But now the WTA insists the HKTA and tournament are liable to pay the penalty since Chow, in his capacity as HKTA president and a committee member, is considered to be "tournament support personnel", and that "the tournament is held accountable for his behaviour".