Thaw in icy relations as Hong Kong Tennis Association receives fee
But governing body will demand cash up front if exhibition organisers want their help again
A major stumbling block in relations between organisers of the BNP Paribas Showdown and the Hong Kong Tennis Association has been cleared after organisers of the exhibition event paid money owed to the local governing body from last year's inaugural tournament.
"We received the money on Friday. The outstanding amount of US$40,000, the service fee from last year's World Tennis Day and Showdown, has been paid and now we can look at talking to them about possible support for this year's event," said Herbert Chow Siu-lung, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association.
But Chow warned that this time the HKTA would want to be paid up front to provide backing for the March 3 event featuring Li Na, Samantha Stosur, Thomas Berdych and Lleyton Hewitt at the Tseung Kwan O velodrome.
"We will be looking for a reasonable fee to be paid up front so as to avoid the repeat of last year's delinquency," Chow said.
We will be looking for a reasonable fee to be paid up front so as to avoid the repeat of last year's delinquency
The HKTA provided the officials and ball boys for last year's event at AsiaWorld Expo, which is booked for another event this year. The HKTA booked a local tournament at the court at Victoria Park, which means this year's event will be held at the Hong Kong velodrome.