Tennis bosses said they were hoping to bring the Hong Kong Open back to the city next year, after the game’s governing body said there would no tournaments in China in 2022. Philip Mok, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association, said the disagreement between the WTA and China over the Peng Shuai case was a sticking point, while the city’s current Covid-19 travel restrictions meant it was “not possible for overseas players to come”. He revealed that the HKTA was negotiating with the world governing body of the women’s game to have the Open included in next year’s schedule, but said “as long we are unclear on Covid-19 and Peng Shuai, there is no way to host it again”. While Mok said he remained optimistic for the future, he bemoaned the loss of the tournament over the past several years and the impact it had on the game locally. “Despite the situation, we [HKTA] are not afraid of losing the time slot to host the WTA event next year or in the future, because we have bought the franchise to it. “But there has been a big impact on Hong Kong tennis because we lost a big crowd of tennis fans, and also this tournament offers some wild cards for local players which can help promote tennis in the city.” Earlier, the WTA released an updated tournament calendar for the rest of the year, which showed no events taking place in China and the venue for the season-ending WTA Finals yet to be disclosed. The Tour had said last month it was still working to find a resolution to the stand-off with China over the Peng Shuai issue and would not return to the country this year. Former doubles world No 1 Peng’s safety became a big concern after she posted a message on social media in November accusing China’s former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, before deleting it and disappearing from public view. The WTA then suspended its events in China, a decision that is expected to cost the elite women’s tour millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship. In the absence of tournaments in China, the autumn schedule includes a new WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara, Mexico in October and a WTA 500 event in San Diego, California which will take place earlier in the month. Tunisia will also host a WTA 250 tournament. “The 2022 WTA fall calendar will provide a robust amount of job opportunities for players in a regional calendar flow that will take us through to the end of the season,” Steve Simon, the WTA chief, said. The WTA said that updates to the calendar would be provided soon, including the location of the WTA Finals which is set to take place the week of October 31. The tournament was held in Guadalajara last year. The absence of WTA events this year is another blow to China, which is quickly becoming an international sporting wilderness after it withdrew from hosting the 2023 Asian Cup soccer tournament because of the Covid-19 situation in the country. That move came after Asian Games organisers postponed the next edition of the multi-sport event, which had been expected to be held in Hangzhou in September.