https://www.scmp.com/rss/517423/feed The Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open is an ATP 250 event played in the city at the end of every calendar year. It is played at the Victoria Park Tennis Centre and typically marks the start of the men’s season. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters Daniil Medvedev has called for a streamlined ATP calendar ⁠with only grand ⁠slams and masters 1000 tournaments ⁠offering ranking points, though the Russian concedes such reforms would be difficult to implement. Top players are obligated to compete in the four majors and eight masters events, with the world rankings breakdown reduced from ‌19 to 18 tournaments in 2026 after the men’s body removed an ATP 500 commitment. World No 11 Medvedev said that if smaller events, such as the Bank of China... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3344573/only-grand-slams-and-masters-tennis-tournaments-should-offer-ranking-points-medvedev-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3344573/only-grand-slams-and-masters-tennis-tournaments-should-offer-ranking-points-medvedev-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:30:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Carlos Alcaraz powered into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday and Novak Djokovic joined him without hitting a ball, as the next generation roared. Aryna Sabalenka surged through but Coco Gauff was forced to fight at Melbourne Park, where temperatures eased to 22 degrees Celsius after the brutal heat of a day earlier. Top seed Alcaraz was in ominous touch at Rod Laver Arena, dismissing the American Tommy Paul 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a masterclass. The 22-year-old plays home hope and sixth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3341154/australian-open-alcaraz-has-djokovic-his-case-sabalenka-faces-hot-teen-prospect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3341154/australian-open-alcaraz-has-djokovic-his-case-sabalenka-faces-hot-teen-prospect?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s tennis chief said he believes the city will continue to receive court dimension waivers to host the men’s professional tour for the foreseeable future. Victoria Park Tennis Court, the venue for the WTA and ATP 250 events in the city, had been enjoying waivers from ATP for insufficient space, given that centre court was 0.45 metres x 1.42 metres narrower than stipulated by the men’s tennis governing body. ATP requires that any centre court shall not be smaller than 66 feet (20.11... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3340579/hong-kongs-tennis-chief-confident-about-future-status-atp-tournament-victoria-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3340579/hong-kongs-tennis-chief-confident-about-future-status-atp-tournament-victoria-park?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:34:41 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to your reporting on the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, including “Bublik ‘overwhelmed’ after claiming title, making world’s top 10” (January 11). Last week, I was lucky to experience world-class tennis at Victoria Park, witnessing not only elite performances on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339951/hong-kong-has-what-it-takes-run-bigger-tennis-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339951/hong-kong-has-what-it-takes-run-bigger-tennis-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After every win in Hong Kong last week, Alexander Bublik would retire to the same Japanese restaurant and savour a “beautiful pint of beer”. Bublik’s drink on Sunday night would have tasted especially satisfying, after his victory over Lorenzo Musetti in the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open final elevated him to a career-high No 10 world ranking. He has five tournament wins in seven months; a late-career surge the 28-year-old partially attributes to the birth of his son Vasily in August... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339579/hong-kong-champion-bublik-celebratory-beers-24-hours-vegas-and-doomed-major-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339579/hong-kong-champion-bublik-celebratory-beers-24-hours-vegas-and-doomed-major-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:30:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara An “overwhelmed” Alexander Bublik celebrated an impressive fifth tournament triumph inside seven months, beating Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets on Sunday to win the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. The Kazakh, who climbed into the world’s top 10 for the first time following his dream Hong Kong debut, won 7-6, 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Musetti gained a measure of consolation when he returned to partner Lorenzo Sonego to doubles final success following a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339492/hong-kong-tennis-open-alexander-bublik-beats-no-1-seed-lorenzo-musetti-ninth-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339492/hong-kong-tennis-open-alexander-bublik-beats-no-1-seed-lorenzo-musetti-ninth-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:26:53 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Andrey Rublev has said there was no point in dreaming about “the ideal” of tennis bosses listening to players and scaling back their bloated calendar. World No 16 Rublev, a 10-time grand slam quarter-finalist, finished last season feeling “exhausted and burnt out” after playing 26 tournaments across 15 countries and four continents. He ultimately drew a line under his campaign in October, but a season that began on December 27, 2024 climaxed with the ATP and Davis Cup finals in November, and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339478/hong-kong-open-doubles-finalist-andrey-rublev-says-fewer-tournaments-just-illusion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339478/hong-kong-open-doubles-finalist-andrey-rublev-says-fewer-tournaments-just-illusion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 04:59:30 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Lorenzo Musetti said he was unfazed by the prospect of trying to end his finals hoodoo against Alexander Bublik in the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday. Italian Musetti outlasted Andrey Rublev on a packed Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on Saturday, coming through a see-saw semi-final 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 following two hours and 43 minutes of gripping tennis. Bublik also recovered from losing the first set to beat Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. It is the first time since 1996 that the top two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339445/hong-kong-tennis-open-lorenzo-musetti-survives-epic-andrey-rublev-battle-reach-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339445/hong-kong-tennis-open-lorenzo-musetti-survives-epic-andrey-rublev-battle-reach-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:36:25 +0000 Mike Chan,Paul McNamara Mike Chan,Paul McNamara Alexander Bublik said he missed “the easy matches” from the professional tour of five years ago, after he resisted a second-set fightback from world No 406 Jerry Shang Juncheng in their Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open quarter-final on Friday. The Kazakh won 6-1, 7-6 in one hour and 25 minutes to book a semi-final clash with Marcos Giron of America. Bublik raced into a 5-0 lead and, after Shang finally got on the board following a sixth game of six deuces, wrapped up the set in 28... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339393/jerry-shang-casts-doubt-hong-kong-return-kazakh-conqueror-rues-loss-easy-matches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339393/jerry-shang-casts-doubt-hong-kong-return-kazakh-conqueror-rues-loss-easy-matches?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:26:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Coleman Wong Chak-lam pledged to stay on the trail of the world’s leading players after he was dealt a salutary lesson by wily Lorenzo Musetti in his Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open quarter-final on Friday. Hongkonger Wong lost 6-4, 6-4, as the challenge of overcoming Musetti proved one ask too many following two victories over top-100 players to reach this stage. He committed 30 unforced errors as he narrowed the margins in his bid to upset the metronomic precision of the world No... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339307/hong-kong-tennis-open-musetti-ends-coleman-wongs-semi-final-hopes-straight-sets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339307/hong-kong-tennis-open-musetti-ends-coleman-wongs-semi-final-hopes-straight-sets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 07:22:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A “strong, explosive and wise” Coleman Wong Chak-lam has the skills and smarts to evade the grip of “boa constrictor” opponent Lorenzo Musetti in his Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open quarter-final on Friday. That is the view of the 21-year-old’s coach, James Allemby, who has told Wong to approach his first ATP 250 last-eight tie with a “practice-match mentality”. Allemby also believes world No 150 Wong has the ability to push the No 7-ranked Italian into “uncomfortable scenarios”, even... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339231/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-set-play-loose-against-boa-constrictor-lorenzo-musetti?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339231/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-set-play-loose-against-boa-constrictor-lorenzo-musetti?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Alexander Bublik said he loves the “hot weather” in Hong Kong after dispatching Botic van de Zandschulp with a convincing straight sets win at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Thursday. Playing in the city for the first time, the world No 11 from Kazakhstan beat his Dutch opponent 6-3, 6-3 and advanced to the quarter-finals, where he will face Jerry Shang Juncheng. Shang had a straight sets win of his own, seeing off fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-4 at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3339219/hong-kong-tennis-open-bublik-ready-heat-shang-battle-semi-final-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3339219/hong-kong-tennis-open-bublik-ready-heat-shang-battle-semi-final-line?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:39:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Jerry Shang Juncheng knocked out fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open for the third straight year, saying he always has a “dream start” in the city. Playing the world No 39 Italian for the first time, Shang won 6-3, 6-4 in little more than 80 minutes on centre court at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. The Chinese wild card broke Sonego late in the first set and early in the second, holding all his own service games. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339198/hong-kong-tennis-open-city-always-feels-dream-start-season-chinas-shang-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339198/hong-kong-tennis-open-city-always-feels-dream-start-season-chinas-shang-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Ada Li,Paul McNamara Ada Li,Paul McNamara Portuguese eighth seed Nuno Borges continued his impressive start to the season with a straight‑sets win over former world No 3 Marin Cilic at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Wednesday. The world No 45 beat the evergreen Cilic 7-5, 6-3, ending the Croat’s bid to reach the last eight. “Overall, I thought I competed really well,” Borges said after the match. “It was not clean and perfect like we always want, but I’m here to keep building my tennis, to find confidence and rhythm.” Having... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339080/hong-kong-tennis-open-impressive-nuno-borges-ends-ex-world-no-3-marin-cilics-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339080/hong-kong-tennis-open-impressive-nuno-borges-ends-ex-world-no-3-marin-cilics-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:10:23 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Coleman Wong Chak-lam said he would not have chosen anywhere else to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final after beating world No 40 Gabriel Diallo in the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Wednesday. The Hongkonger showed plenty of character to recover from a poor first set and win 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 to book a last-eight clash with No 1 seed Lorenzo Musetti on Friday. It will be the world No 150’s first trip to the latter stages of an ATP event and he said he would “keep going and keep... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339074/coleman-wong-wins-epic-reach-hong-kong-tennis-open-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339074/coleman-wong-wins-epic-reach-hong-kong-tennis-open-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:17:52 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After cutting his teeth competing in front of unruly American college audiences, Gabriel Diallo is undaunted about the prospect of tackling “local superstar” Coleman Wong Chak-lam and a partisan Hong Kong crowd on Wednesday. Diallo gained some insight into the cauldron he will encounter in his Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open second-round match, as the noise that accompanied Wong’s victory over Mariano Navone on Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on Tuesday washed over a sparse Court No 1 where the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338955/partisan-hong-kong-crowd-hold-no-fears-gabriel-diallo-ahead-local-superstar-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338955/partisan-hong-kong-crowd-hold-no-fears-gabriel-diallo-ahead-local-superstar-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 01:00:24 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Defending champion Alexandre Muller said after his first win of the new year at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open that he hoped to start this season in Hong Kong as well as he did last year. On Tuesday, the Frenchman beat Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the men’s singles on day three of the tournament. “It’s always good to start the season with a good match like this, a good victory,” the 28-year-old said after the match, praising the contest and expressing his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338942/hong-kong-open-tennis-title-holder-alexandre-muller-hoping-another-year-last?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338942/hong-kong-open-tennis-title-holder-alexandre-muller-hoping-another-year-last?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Coleman Wong Chak-lam notched up the first Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open win of his career at the third time of asking, when he beat Mariano Navone in straight sets on Tuesday. A break down at 5-4 late in the second set, the Hong Kong star won 11 straight points to enjoy a three-match-point advantage before eventually sealing a commanding 6-3, 7-5 win in one hour and 41 minutes. Victory sets up a second round clash with Gabriel Diallo, who is his doubles partner for the week, in Causeway... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338931/coleman-wong-wins-first-singles-match-hong-kong-tennis-open-third-time-asking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338931/coleman-wong-wins-first-singles-match-hong-kong-tennis-open-third-time-asking?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:24:54 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After marrying long-term partner Tamara in the off-season, and winning two Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open qualifiers, Laslo Djere has begun to banish memories of the “disastrous” end to his 2025 campaign. In a desperate attempt to cling to his top-100 ranking and main-draw entry for this month’s Australian Open, Djere, who has spoken movingly about losing both his parents by the age of 23, hurried back after sustaining a stress fracture of his left shinbone last July. The Serbian... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338806/djeres-unplanned-hong-kong-tennis-trip-banishing-memories-disastrous-end-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338806/djeres-unplanned-hong-kong-tennis-trip-banishing-memories-disastrous-end-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Mike Chan,Paul McNamara Mike Chan,Paul McNamara Seasoned tennis player Marin Cilic said he decided to start his season at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open so he could spend more time with his family back home over the festive period. Speaking after his 6-3, 6-2 first-round win over French player Adrian Mannarino on Monday, Cilic also said he believed he was “in a good position to have some really good results this year”. “It’s always tricky [against Mannarino]; he is fantastic on these kinds of fast courts,” said the 37-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338797/marin-cilic-revelling-decision-start-2026-season-hong-kong-tennis-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338797/marin-cilic-revelling-decision-start-2026-season-hong-kong-tennis-open?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:05:07 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Teenager Kai Thompson said he felt more equipped for Davis Cup and junior grand slam competition after a tough ATP Tour baptism at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday. The Hongkonger battled gamely on a busy No 1 court at Victoria Park Tennis Centre, saving four match points before going down 6-3, 6-2 to world No 88 Emilio Nava in one hour and two minutes. The 17-year-old, who will partner Zhou Yi of China in the doubles event, was an unused squad member when Hong Kong shocked... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338674/hong-kong-teenager-eyeing-davis-cup-role-and-grand-slam-joy-after-atp-tour-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338674/hong-kong-teenager-eyeing-davis-cup-role-and-grand-slam-joy-after-atp-tour-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:30:48 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Coleman Wong Chak-lam has been drawn to Mariano Navone of Argentina in the first round of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, while favourites Alexandre Muller and Andrey Rublev can only face each other in the final. The main draw starts on Monday with the singles and doubles first rounds, while the second round will get under way on Wednesday at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Muller, the defending champion, takes on Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, while world No 16 Rublev, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338617/hong-kong-tennis-open-coleman-wong-faces-difficult-draw-rublev-and-muller-kept-apart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338617/hong-kong-tennis-open-coleman-wong-faces-difficult-draw-rublev-and-muller-kept-apart?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:02:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Two years after he came to Hong Kong under a dark injury cloud, the evergreen Marin Cilic is back in the city plotting a “fantastic” 22nd season of an exceptional career. Croat Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, hardly played in 2023 because of a right knee complaint. Following surgery, he tentatively returned at the following year’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, but barely one month after his first-round defeat succumbed again to the same issue. “I did consider quitting, as an athlete... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338603/marin-cilic-over-injury-hell-and-thoughts-quitting-plotting-fantastic-2026-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338603/marin-cilic-over-injury-hell-and-thoughts-quitting-plotting-fantastic-2026-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:00:15 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A bullish Coleman Wong Chak-lam is promising to “go all in” to achieve a momentous 2026 after an eye-opening training block with three-time grand slam finalist Casper Ruud. Wong, who will launch his season at this week’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, spent a week in Norway with fellow Rafa Nadal Academy alumnus Ruud last month. The Hongkonger reached the US Open third round during a largely progressive 2025, but he is aiming to consistently dwarf that achievement in the image of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338544/hongkonger-coleman-wong-hungry-major-progress-after-norway-camp-casper-ruud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3338544/hongkonger-coleman-wong-hungry-major-progress-after-norway-camp-casper-ruud?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:08:15 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Former US Open champion Marin Cilic will return for the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open next month, joining nine players ranked in the world’s top 50 who have signed up to take part. Cilic, 37, who won the US Open in 2014, last played at the Hong Kong Open in January last year – when it returned for the first time in almost 20 years – but lost in the first round to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. That loss came during an injury-blighted period for the Croatian, when the former world No 3 fell... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3337358/hong-kong-tennis-open-ex-us-open-champ-cilic-9-world-top-50-players-start-2026-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3337358/hong-kong-tennis-open-ex-us-open-champ-cilic-9-world-top-50-players-start-2026-city?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:30:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Jerry Shang Juncheng will launch his 2026 season at next month’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, hoping a return to one of his favourite cities can kick-start a comeback to the top of the game. After an injury-plagued 2025, the 20-year-old, who is currently training at Florida’s IMG Academy, said he was eager to begin a new chapter and fight his way back into the top 50 in the world. Shang’s singles ranking has plummeted from a career-high No 47 in 2024, when he became just the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3336798/jerry-shang-hoping-energy-hong-kong-fans-can-kick-start-return-top-50-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3336798/jerry-shang-hoping-energy-hong-kong-fans-can-kick-start-return-top-50-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:00:16 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Wu Yibing is hoping to start 2026 with a bang at next month’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open as he looks to build on his recent National Games triumph. Wu’s bond with Hong Kong dates back to more than a decade ago, when he first played in the city at an ITF event. “I have played in Hong Kong many times during my teenage years,” he said on Monday. “At that time I was dreaming of competing at Centre Court at Victoria Park.” Wu looked forward to another chance to take on fellow mainlander... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3336514/hong-kong-tennis-open-wu-yibing-hopes-build-national-games-win-home-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3336514/hong-kong-tennis-open-wu-yibing-hopes-build-national-games-win-home-event?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:10 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Coleman Wong Chak-lam will be joined at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open next month by his fellow National Games medallists Wu Yibing and Jerry Shang Juncheng, the organisers have announced. Wong, Hong Kong’s leading player, could also face Andrey Rublev, who ended his historic run at this year’s US Open, after the Russian was among a host of the world’s top 20 players confirmed to have signed up. Set to play at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium from January 4 to 11 are world No 8 Lorenzo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335689/hong-kong-tennis-open-chinas-wu-and-shang-join-rublev-coleman-wong-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335689/hong-kong-tennis-open-chinas-wu-and-shang-join-rublev-coleman-wong-line?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:10:17 +0000 Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong Chak-lam wants to use this year’s clay-court season to continue his push to join tennis’ elite ranks. And Wong, the highest-ranked player in Hong Kong’s history, is hoping to earn a wild card for the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid, which starts on April 23. The 20-year-old will be looking to build on an impressive run in the Miami Open last month, when he beat world No 14 Ben Shelton before losing to Australian Adam Walton in the third round. But to maintain his rise, Wong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3306154/miami-upset-shows-hong-kong-tennis-belongs-i-must-conquer-clay-coleman-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3306154/miami-upset-shows-hong-kong-tennis-belongs-i-must-conquer-clay-coleman-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:30:13 +0000 Hong Kong tennis chiefs are looking at options for upgrading the government-owned Victoria Park venue with a view to staging better events, after learning the new Kai Tak Sports Park was not equipped to replace it. Michael Cheng Ming-git, president of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (HKCTA), revealed his organisation was conducting a feasibility study on the Causeway Bay venue, examining whether and how it could meet requirements for hosting leading tournaments. Cheng reiterated his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3294223/hong-kong-tennis-chiefs-look-options-victoria-park-after-kai-tak-ruled-out-venue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3294223/hong-kong-tennis-chiefs-look-options-victoria-park-after-kai-tak-ruled-out-venue?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 08:45:08 +0000 Karen Khachanov has vowed to try to break his Bank of China Hong Kong Open hoodoo in 2026, but deposed champion Andrey Rublev refused to commit to a return to Victoria Park Tennis Centre next year. World No 19 Khachanov fell to wild card Kei Nishikori at the first hurdle of this year’s tournament, 12 months after going down to surprise finalist Emil Ruusuvuori in his opening match of the 2024 edition. The 28-year-old, who combined with Rublev to reach the doubles final, said the Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293690/rublev-will-give-djokovic-positive-hong-kong-open-message-russian-unsure-over-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293690/rublev-will-give-djokovic-positive-hong-kong-open-message-russian-unsure-over-return?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:00:09 +0000 The new Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open doubles champion, Sander Arends, has advised Hong Kong No 1 Coleman Wong Chak-lam to stay focused on his singles career. Last year, Wong, the world No 170, reached two finals and four semi-finals on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour. He was beaten in the first round of last week’s Hong Kong Open and is now in Melbourne to try to qualify for this month’s Australian Open. As a junior, however, Wong’s greatest successes came in the team format, where he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293542/hong-kong-tennis-open-winner-tells-citys-no-1-coleman-wong-where-focus-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293542/hong-kong-tennis-open-winner-tells-citys-no-1-coleman-wong-where-focus-success?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:00:09 +0000 France’s Alexandre Muller hailed an “amazing” tournament after winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open by beating Kei Nishikori of Japan in an enthralling three-set battle on Sunday. Muller has been the comeback king for the past week at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, and duly recovered from losing the first set for a fifth match in a row to land his maiden ATP tour title. He fought back valiantly to prevail 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, dropping to his knees when Nishikori hit the ball into the net on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293487/andrey-rublev-denied-doubles-title-hong-kong-tennis-open-stage-set-singles-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293487/andrey-rublev-denied-doubles-title-hong-kong-tennis-open-stage-set-singles-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 07:49:48 +0000 Michael Chang has told Hong Kong’s leading tennis hope Coleman Wong Chak-lam to get the “right coaching and guidance” to grow as both a player and a person. Wong launched his 2025 campaign at the past week’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, where he fought gamely in a first-round loss to Chinese world No 50 Jerry Shang Juncheng. After his 7-6, 6-4 defeat, Wong, who is ranked No 170, said he felt “ready to break into the top 100” this year. The 20-year-old is also targeting a debut appearance... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293470/michael-chang-reveals-what-coleman-wong-and-hong-kong-can-do-join-tennis-elite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293470/michael-chang-reveals-what-coleman-wong-and-hong-kong-can-do-join-tennis-elite?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 04:00:17 +0000 China’s Jerry Shang Juncheng’s hopes of winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open ended prematurely when he retired because of illness during his semi-final against Kei Nishikori of Japan. Shang lasted just 20 minutes in Saturday’s match at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium before making the decision to withdraw. As Shang and Nishikori were preparing to swap ends, world No 50 Shang put an arm around his Japanese counterpart, and the pair exchanged words before the umpire announced the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293420/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-alexandre-muller-fights-back-again-reach-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293420/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-alexandre-muller-fights-back-again-reach-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:16:56 +0000 Kei Nishikori stormed into the semi-finals as seniority prevailed at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Friday. The Japanese veteran, at one time ranked as high as No 4 but now down at 106, needed three sets to get past Britain’s world No 49 Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a last-four tie with China’s Jerry Shang Juncheng, who is 16 years his junior at 19. Earlier in the day, Shang battled a fever before winning his match against Fabian Marozsan. Jaume Munar and Alexandre... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293277/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-terrible-fourth-seed-arthur-fils-knocked-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3293277/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-terrible-fourth-seed-arthur-fils-knocked-out?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 07:17:56 +0000 Coleman Wong Chak-lam said mixing with elite-level players at this week’s Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open has helped him in his quest to break into the world’s top 100 this year. The best tennis player in Hong Kong by some distance, Wong is currently world No 170, after climbing to 128 in September. He lost a close encounter to hot mainland Chinese prospect Jerry Shang Juncheng in the first round, but insisted his display in two tight sets with the world No 50 showed he was “not so far away”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293256/hong-kong-tennis-open-home-hope-coleman-wong-says-event-helped-him-top-100-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293256/hong-kong-tennis-open-home-hope-coleman-wong-says-event-helped-him-top-100-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 04:48:34 +0000 Lorenzo Musetti said it would be a big mistake to write off Novak Djokovic’s prospects of adding to his record 24 grand slam titles. The 22-year-old Italian Musetti, nonetheless, reckoned compatriot and world No 1 Jannik Sinner had moved “one step ahead of everybody else”, during a supremely successful but controversial 2024. Musetti enjoyed his own breakthrough campaign last year, when he reached three tour finals and the Wimbledon semi-finals, and claimed Olympic bronze. In both his Wimbledon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293190/hong-kong-open-lorenzo-musetti-says-djokovic-still-threat-jannik-sinner-step-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293190/hong-kong-open-lorenzo-musetti-says-djokovic-still-threat-jannik-sinner-step-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:45:07 +0000 Jerry Shang Juncheng outclassed Pedro Martinez to march into the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open quarter-finals, then declared he was stronger mentally than during his fairy-tale run to the last four a year ago. Chinese teen Shang was a world No 183 wild-card entrant last January when he pulled off a string of upset victories before falling to eventual champion Andrey Rublev. He was denied the opportunity to exact revenge when Rublev, the top seed, was knocked out on Thursday evening, upset... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293155/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-jerry-shang-wins-first-set-he-eyes-rublev-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293155/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-jerry-shang-wins-first-set-he-eyes-rublev-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jan 2025 08:07:43 +0000 The Bank of China Hong Kong Open’s marathon man, Gabriel Diallo, has revealed how he once bumped Maria Sharapova out of the headlines to signal his own major ambitions. During a coming-of-age 2024, Diallo won five matches at the US Open and reached his first ATP 250 final to announce his arrival as one of the world’s most promising talents. The 23-year-old is among a crop of talented Canadian players aiming to end the country’s male grand slam champion drought. And Diallo, who will meet No 2... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293039/hong-kong-open-canadas-gabriel-diallo-signalled-ambition-wiping-out-maria-sharapova?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293039/hong-kong-open-canadas-gabriel-diallo-signalled-ambition-wiping-out-maria-sharapova?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Five years after watching in awe as fully fledged professional Alexandre Muller practised at the French National Training Centre, young star Arthur Fils will aim to down his compatriot in the quarter-finals of the Bank of China Hong Kong Open. The 20-year-old Fils, who is the youngest member of the world’s top 20, booked his last-eight spot with a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 victory over Zizou Bergs of Belgium at a chilly Victoria Park Tennis Centre on Wednesday. World No 67 Muller, 27, earlier needed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293069/fils-survives-rough-hong-kong-open-conditions-set-all-french-quarter-final-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293069/fils-survives-rough-hong-kong-open-conditions-set-all-french-quarter-final-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:17:08 +0000 Had Bu Yunchaokete stayed close to his roots, in a city of fewer than 500,000 people in Xinjiang, in China’s far west, he would probably not have become one of his country’s best male tennis players. But his sliding doors moment came when he was just an infant and his grandparents – who raised him after the death of his father – moved him from the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to Xinjiang’s provincial capital, Urumqi, for a better standard of education. While studying in Urumqi,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293012/sliding-doors-moment-opened-world-possibilities-china-tennis-star-bu-yunchaokete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293012/sliding-doors-moment-opened-world-possibilities-china-tennis-star-bu-yunchaokete?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:58:30 +0000 Kei Nishikori said his Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open clash with Karen Khachanov on Wednesday would provide an acid test for whether he could still compete with the world’s top 20 players. Japan’s former world No 4 Nishikori, a US Open finalist in 2014, missed all of the 2022 season and played only four tournaments in 2023, because of a succession of serious injuries. Returning in 2024, his world ranking sank to the depths of No 581 in July. A gutsy competitor and 10-time grand-slam... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293009/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-japans-kei-nishikori-faces-key-comeback-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3293009/bank-china-hong-kong-tennis-open-japans-kei-nishikori-faces-key-comeback-test?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 04:59:41 +0000 Teenage Chinese star Jerry Shang Juncheng broke home hearts after beating local favourite Coleman Wong Chak-lam in a gripping Bank of China Hong Kong Open first-round clash on Tuesday. Under the lights at a rapt Victoria Park Tennis Centre, Hongkonger Wong fought furiously to stay alive in the opening set before losing it on a tiebreak. World No 50 Shang gained a decisive break early in the second and clinched victory 7-6, 6-4 to stay on course for a quarter-final meeting with defending champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292951/chinese-star-jerry-shang-breaks-home-hearts-hong-kong-open-victory-over-coleman-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292951/chinese-star-jerry-shang-breaks-home-hearts-hong-kong-open-victory-over-coleman-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:51:27 +0000 The United States’ men’s tennis players appear closer to ending their 21-year grand slam drought than their Chinese equivalents are to breaking their nation’s majors duck. But Michael Chang, the three-time Hong Kong Tennis Open champion, has backed China’s growing pool of stars to begin making an assault on major titles in 2025. It is an indictment of men’s tennis on the mainland that Zhang Zhizhen became only the first Chinese player to be seeded for a grand slam, at this year’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292929/will-us-tennis-end-drought-china-wins-mens-grand-slam-michael-chang-has-his-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292929/will-us-tennis-end-drought-china-wins-mens-grand-slam-michael-chang-has-his-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:43:26 +0000 Cameron Norrie praised American youngster Learner Tien’s temperament after the Briton’s straight sets victory in the third round at the Bank of China Hong Kong Open. Tien went into the tournament riding the waves of reaching the final of the ATP Next Gen Finals, while Norrie arrived at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium off the back of an inconsistent 2024 that was also hampered by injury. Norrie comfortably claimed the first set 6-3 but was made to work in the second before eventually winning it... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292797/british-tennis-star-cameron-norrie-overcomes-rising-star-learner-tien-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292797/british-tennis-star-cameron-norrie-overcomes-rising-star-learner-tien-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:39:20 +0000 Lorenzo Sonego said he has buried the hatchet with defending Bank of China Hong Kong Open champion Andrey Rublev, after a fallout between the pair last month. Italian Sonego delivered an imperious display of all-court tennis on Monday to beat talented American Brandon Nakashima 7-6, 6-3 and move into the second round of this year’s Hong Kong tournament. It was Sonego’s first match since he lost to Rublev in last month’s Moselle Open. The victorious Rublev immediately withdrew from the French... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292789/italian-sonego-says-rublev-feud-past-defends-one-best-guys-jannik-sinner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292789/italian-sonego-says-rublev-feud-past-defends-one-best-guys-jannik-sinner?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:44:32 +0000 One of tennis’s emerging stars, Arthur Fils, said he felt “no pressure” to keep pace with his fellow youngster, the four-times grand slam winner Carlos Alcaraz. During a breakthrough 2024, the 20-year-old Fils won two ATP 500 titles and climbed to world No 20. Alcaraz, meanwhile, who is one year Fils’ senior, at 21, won the French Open and Wimbledon for his third and fourth major titles. Seeded No 4 in this week’s Bank of China Hong Kong Open, Frenchman Fils will meet either Zizou Bergs of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292712/french-tennis-star-arthur-fils-under-no-pressure-keep-immense-carlos-alcaraz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292712/french-tennis-star-arthur-fils-under-no-pressure-keep-immense-carlos-alcaraz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:30:09 +0000 Kei Nishikori said the doping cases involving high-profile pair Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek were “very complicated” and only the two players “know what’s happened”. On Saturday, the outspoken Nick Kyrgios lashed out at Sinner and Swiatek, who both tested positive for banned substances in 2024. World No 1 Sinner, this year’s Australian Open and US Open champion, twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March. The Italian was cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292650/nishikori-says-sinner-swiatek-doping-cases-very-complicated-after-kyrgios-lashes-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292650/nishikori-says-sinner-swiatek-doping-cases-very-complicated-after-kyrgios-lashes-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:00:19 +0000 China’s rising tennis star Jerry Shang Juncheng is hoping to thrive under the pressure of being one of the favourites at the Bank of China Hong Kong Open as he takes on local rival Coleman Wong Chak-lam in the first round, which starts on Monday. Shang, 19, said that he was coming into the tournament at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium off the back of an up-and-down off-season and wanted to have fun in Hong Kong while fighting for every point. The world No 50 had a breakthrough 2024 season that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292591/hong-kong-open-rising-chinese-star-jerry-shang-ready-have-fun-while-pushing-himself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3292591/hong-kong-open-rising-chinese-star-jerry-shang-ready-have-fun-while-pushing-himself?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2024 01:00:16 +0000