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Paul Ryding

Organisers of the 2016 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open outlined their plans to boost tennis in the community and ramped up the preparations for this year’s competition on Tuesday when they revealed the first set of marquee players for the October 8-16 event.
Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic will return to defend her title and will be joined by British number one Johanna Konta.
French Open doubles champions Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic will also compete at the Victoria Park tournament.
The organisers are scheduled to announce a second batch of star names next Tuesday.

“Jankovic will be coming back as the defending champion,” said Hong Kong Tennis Association chief executive and tournament director Chris Lai.
“And the French number one pair, Garcia and Mladenovic, they are a rising pair.
“We wanted to have a balance between veterans and some new and up-and-coming players.”
WATCH Highlights of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open final: Jelena Jankovic vs Angelique Kerber
Jankovic, 31, won last year’s event in a thrilling final against Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games silver medallist Angelique Kerber after stepping in as an eleventh hour wild card replacement when a host of players were forced to withdraw in the build-up to the tournament.
“If they’re injured we can’t do a lot about it – we have another six weeks before the tournament,” added Lai.
“Hopefully they all will come. Our tournament is towards the end of the season, so players can be tired or get injured.”

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Tennis Rocks programme launch, which aims to provide free tennis training and equipment to 4,000 participants across the city.
The initiative, which received HK$20 million in funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and is spearheaded by pop star Eason Chan, will allow primary school students from deprived areas and senior citizens access to tennis coaching.
Back again: Prudential confirms partnership as Hong Kong Tennis Open sponsor
“Community is a big element this year,” said deputy tournament director Ronny Chow. “It’s not just about inviting students [to watch the competition]. We are going to benefit more special needs children in mainstream schools.”
After a successful 2015 edition, organisers said they were hoping this year’s tournament will see the Open join the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and the Hong Kong Marathon as the city’s major sporting events.

“Last year the attendance almost doubled and the field [of players] was much stronger [than 2014],” Lai said.
“This year it’s even stronger, so we hope to make this one of the big three events in Hong Kong. Rugby, obviously, is the biggest, the marathon is probably second, and we hope to be the third one.
‘I can still beat the best’: Jelena Jankovic crowned champion at Hong Kong Tennis Open
“This is our third year and we are building it up quickly. We want people to remember the event. Like every March or April you see the rugby, every October you will see the tennis Open as a landmark event on the sports calendar of Hong Kong.”

Michael Cheng, chairman of the Hong Kong Tennis Association’s executive committee, said he wanted the event - which sits on the WTA International category of tournaments - to break attendance records this year.
“If you look at last year’s event – Friday, Saturday and Sunday it was full. I expect attendance will be higher.
Hong Kong Tennis Open ‘on track to become one of top WTA events’ after cash boost, say organisers
“But there are about 31 or 33 international tournaments on the WTA Tour. This was the second highest attended last year. Hopefully this will be the highest attended event.”
Rio Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig and American Venus Williams were among the players to compete in the Open last year.


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Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open

Tennis Rocks: Defending champion Jelena Jankovic and British number one Johanna Konta confirmed for Hong Kong Tennis Open

Jelena Jankovic won the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open in 2015. Photo: Sam Tsang

Eason Chan (back, R2) and Rhoda Chan (back, R1), head of Charities Projects of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; attend a press conference of The Hong Kong Tennis Association and Jockey Club Tennis Rocks Programme to promote tennis as a sport to individuals of all ages and social statuses at Victoria Park. 30AUG16 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 21: Caroline Garcia of France looks on during the match against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania on day 1 of the Connecticut Open at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale on August 21, 2016 in New Haven, Connecticut. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Johanna Konta of the United Kingdom returns a shot to Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States during her first round Women's Singles match on Day One of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

(L to R) Eason Chan, Rhoda Chan, head of Charities Projects of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; John Tsang Chun-wah, financial secretary; and Philip Mok, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association; attend a press conference of The Hong Kong Tennis Association and Jockey Club Tennis Rocks Programme to promote tennis as a sport to individuals of all ages and social statuses at Victoria Park. 30AUG16 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong Tennis Open can be Asia's answer to Wimbledon or the Australian Open, say organisers  

Venus Williams, who bowed out in the semi-finals, was a crowd favourite at this year's Prudential Hong Kong Open. Photo: Xinhua

Serbian Jelena Jankovic, now ranked 22, kisses the trophy is elated after winning the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. She only agreed to compete on the eve of the tournament. Photo: Sam Tsang

Australian Sam Stosur was a crowd favourite during the tournament. Photo: Xinhua 

Brave-faced HKTA makes the best of star-studded withdrawals from Prudential Hong Kong Open

Venus Williams was a huge attraction for fans and the American veteran didn't disappoint by reaching the Hong Kong Open semis. Photo: AP

Garbine Muguruza was a no-show in Hong Kong after winning the China Open in Beijing. Photo: Reuters 

Germany's Sabine Lisicki won last year's Hong Kong Open but she couldn't defend her title because of injury. Photo: Reuters 

Former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic might be down but she's in Sunday's singles final. Photo: Sam Tsang 

HK$9 million Mega Events Fund boost for Hong Kong Tennis Open, but golf and cricket still sweating

Jelena Jankovic (right) celebrates with the Hong Kong Tennis Open trophy after beating Angelique Kerber last year. Photo: SCMP

Justin Rose is all smile after winning the final round of the 57th UBS Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. 25OCT15

Serbian Jelena Jankovic at the Semi Final match vs. American Venus Williams at Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2015 at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. 17OCT15

Chinese grand slam doubles champion Yan Zi comes out of retirement to help organise Hong Kong Tennis Open

Retired Chinese player Yan Zi instructs a young player during a promotional event. Photo: Nora Tam 

Yan Zi (left) and Zheng Jie kiss the trophy after winning the Australian Open in 2006. Photo: AFP

Eugenie Bouchard sues over US Open injury that forced her to miss Hong Kong Tennis Open

Eugenie Bouchard is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit. Photo: EPA

Eugenie Bouchard is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit. Photo: Reuters

Eugenie Bouchard's world ranking has fallen from 5th to 38th in a year. Photo: AP

Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

The pair will be joined by French Open doubles champions Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic at the October 8-16 Victoria Park tournament, with more names to be announced next week
