Moreno to return
FORMER Hong Kong number one Paulette Moreno has agreed to represent the territory at this year's Federation Cup - but a lingering back problem could yet scupper her return from retirement.
Moreno, 25, is easing back into a specialised training regime after answering a call from the Hong Kong Tennis Association and team captain Mark Bailey to compete in the April event in South Korea.
Moreno, who retired from full-time tennis more than two years ago because of a back injury, is being seen as singles partner to Hong Kong's current number one, Willy Chan Lee.
Said Bailey: 'Paulette has basically said yes. She is training now for the tournament and we are happy to have her.
'Obviously, it would give us more options in the tournament. It is a tough competition and we will be the underdogs.' Hong Kong have been placed in Group One alongside China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Kazakhstan.
The eight teams will be split into two groups of four with preliminary round-robins followed by a play-off. The Group winners advances into the World Group.
Moreno has ruled out a full-time return to competition tennis, but she is giving herself a chance to play for Hong Kong in the Federation Cup.
But she says even a short comeback will depend on how her back responds to training.
'After a while I will be hitting on the court. But it all depends on how my back reacts,' she said.
