Local championship offers wild card to Hong Kong Open qualifying

The winner of the women's singles at the Hong Kong National Championships this weekend will receive a wild card into the qualifying draw at the inaugural Hong Kong Open in September.

Vying for the chance will be a number of top juniors, while Hong Kong No 1 Lynn Zhang Ling will probably receive a wild card straight into the main draw of the WTA event when Hong Kong returns to the world of professional tennis after more than a decade.

"The HKTA has hosted ITF ladies and pro circuit tournaments over the past two years, providing local players with the opportunity to test their skills against international players," said Herbert Chow Siu-lung, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association.

"The winner of the National Championships will now be able to test herself at the highest level, right here in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong's new Women's Tennis Association International Series event, secured with a US$2 million grant from the government last year, has already pencilled in China's No 2, Peng Shuai, as a marquee player for the 32-draw event, which boasts a purse of US$250,000.

Bidding to rub shoulders with some of the world's best will be leading Hong Kong juniors such as Eudice Chong Wong and Tiffany Wu Ho-ching, who is the defending champion this weekend.