ATP Hong Kong Open may return as local officials work with the government and sponsors to bring back world-class men’s tennis
- Hong Kong last staged a high-profile men’s tournament in 2002, with the city having hosted players such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Boris Becker
- The city is a popular stopover on the WTA Tour and a men’s ATP event would mean buying the licence of another tournament on the circuit
Local tennis officials are working with the government and potential sponsors to bring an elite ATP men’s tournament back to Hong Kong for the first time since 2002 and revive the city’s status as a regional hub for international sporting events.
Philip Mok Kwan-yat, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA), said efforts were under way to revive the ATP Hong Kong Open, which was first held in 1973 and has since featured names such as Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Pat Cash, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Boris Becker and Andre Agassi, among others.
Hong Kong has a strong pedigree in hosting international tennis events by staging the WTA Prudential Hong Kong Open from 2014 to 2018, which in its last year was voted the best tournament in its category by the players.
“We are really doing well with the WTA tournament, so naturally, we are thinking what’s next for Hong Kong tennis,” Mok told the Post.
“The government has been very supportive and they see tennis as one of the sports they want to use to elevate the image of Hong Kong as an international city.