Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash called upon Hong Kong parents to make sacrifices and give their children the chance of following their dreams of becoming the next Michael Chang.
Cash, the last Australian to win at Wimbledon, is in town to raise funds for the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation whose quest it is to develop young talent. Yesterday, he said that as a father of four he would never discourage his children from playing tennis.
'How would your children feel if you took their dream away from them?' asked the 1987 Wimbledon champion. 'You can always go back to school. Studies should never stop a child from pursuing sport.'
Returning to Hong Kong for the first time since he won the inaugural Salem Open in 1990, Cash can be seen in action today at the Pro-Am Challenge at Victoria Park. Accompanying him are fellow-Australians Tony Roche and Kim Warwick and they will all feature in doubles matches with celebrities and leading personalities in the local tennis scene.
But yesterday afternoon, Cash and company took time off to give some of the SAR's up-and-coming youngsters, among them Yu Hiu-tung, Brian Hung, Michael Lai and Martin Sayer, a few tips on the game both on and off the court.
Roche, who together with John Newcombe won five doubles titles at Wimbledon, advised youngsters to have a deep love for the game. 'There are many components necessary to become a good player, but none more important than a love for the game. I see so many kids out there who are pushed into playing tennis and who don't enjoy it,' Roche said.
