Hong Kong can bring top-class men's tennis event back, but needs an ATP licence
The will and the money are there, but the elusive last barrier is securing rights to stage professional tournament
Hong Kong would be most welcome to once again host a tournament on the men's professional circuit, top ATP official Alison Lee said.
Now that a WTA tournament is up and running, both the government and the Hong Kong Tennis Association are actively pursuing the idea of bringing back a men's event to a town which once used to be the playground of the stars like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, to name a few.
The days when Michael Chang-mania swept through screaming fans at Victoria Park are still remembered by Lee who used to live here just before the handover and who returned in an official role with the ATP when Hong Kong hosted a tournament that was last played in 2002.
If Hong Kong were to obtain an ATP licence again, that would be a good addition to the Asian swing
That tournament saw an all-Spanish final in which Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Carlos Moya to add his name to an illustrious list of past winners including Agassi, Sampras, Jim Courier, Pat Cash and Chang.
Going back even further, Rod Laver defeated Charlie Pasarell to win in 1973. Ken Rosewall won back-to-back titles in '76 and '77, followed by Connors and Ivan Lendl.
Can the good old days return? Lee is hopeful.
"Hong Kong is a great city and it is a shame that the ATP tournament licence that was here, moved to another city in the region," says Lee, vice-president, ATP international group.