WTA says decision on Hong Kong Open, long-awaited return to China is ‘forthcoming’
- Schedule for end of this year is expected to be released in coming weeks, WTA spokesman says
- Hong Kong Tennis Association source says ‘hefty prize money’ on offer in China could be deciding factor
Tennis officials remain upbeat about the prospect of the city’s prestigious Hong Kong Open returning this year, with a decision on the sport’s return to China believed to be “forthcoming”.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is expected to release its schedule for the rest of the year in the coming weeks. At the moment, the WTA’s official website only shows tournaments up to early September.
A source close to the Hong Kong Tennis Association said officials there were expecting to hear at some point in the next fortnight as to whether the city would get its flagship event back.
“The core issue is whether they will return to China which runs eight tournaments a year, including the Hong Kong Open,” the source said. “Obviously the board members will have to consider the hefty prize money offered by tournaments in China, as well as the fee to the WTA.
“There should be a good chance as far as we understand, but of course this is going to be the sole decision of the WTA board. We’ll see.”
When the WTA Finals were last held in China in 2019, champion Ash Barty collected US$3.5 million out of the total US$14 million prize purse. Since then, China has been largely closed to international sporting events because of the coronavirus pandemic, although the Peng Shuai issue has also coloured its relationship with women’s tennis.