Tennis the winner as Elite Invitational Tournament kicks off local calendar
- Players return to competition for the first time since March but are grateful to have been given the opportunity to finally compete
- No ‘outside’ spectators were allowed because of group gathering restrictions imposed by the government but it’s a good start
Domestic sport returned on Sunday with the staging of the Elite Invitational Tennis Tournament at the Chinese Recreation Club, as local athletes were given a boost after a four-month break from competition because of the pandemic.
Despite two locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 being reported on Sunday – breaking a 21-day streak of no local infections – Hong Kong’s top eight men’s and women’s players gathered at Tai Hang for the opening day of the event.
“We have all been longing for a bit of competition since last playing in Davis Cup in early March,” said Brian Yeung Pak-long, who didn’t seem to show the effects of his long lay-off when smashing past junior player, Sebastian Nothhaft 6-0, 6-1.
“I don’t worry too much about the pandemic situation. Hong Kong has done a good job in containing the virus while organisers [of the tournament] have also taken precautionary measures to provide a safe playing environment. And as a player we have done our part in keeping social distancing and putting on face masks when not playing.”
With the government still imposing a 50-person limit for group gathering at public places, organisers had to follow strict guidelines on attendance with spectators from outside the club not allowed to attend.