Kristina Mladenovic to come back even stronger for 2017 Prudential Hong Kong Open

The 24-year-old Frenchwoman, last year’s runner-up at Victoria Park, has enjoyed a stellar year, reaching the French Open quarter-finals among other noteworthy achievements

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France’s Kristina Mladenovic is confirmed to play at the 2017 Prudential Hong Kong Open in October. Photo: K. Y Cheng

Published: 8:00pm, 16 Aug 2017Updated: 2:57pm, 10 Sep 2017

Kristina Mladenovic will return to this year’s Prudential Hong Kong Open ready for another crack at the women’s tennis title she narrowly lost at Victoria Park in 2016.

The 24-year-old Frenchwoman has been confirmed for the Hong Kong tournament from October 9-15 and will no doubt return a stronger player having enjoyed considerable success since losing to Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 in last year’s Hong Kong final.

Also confirmed for the October extravaganza were China’s Zhang Shuai and Taiwanese doubles pair Chan Yung-jan and Chan Hao-ching, who won the 2016 Hong Kong Open doubles title.

Mladenovic will make a welcome reappearance to the tournament having risen prominently as a French Open quarter-finalist this year.

She won her maiden singles title at St Petersburg and has beaten the likes of Venus Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova, and Garbine Muguruza this year alone.

Kristina Mladenovic receives treatment during last year’s Prudential Hong Kong Open final. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

The French number one and world number 13 was also a semi-finalist at Indian Wells.