Breaking | Passionate fans help Hong Kong Open win players’ vote for WTA best international women’s tennis tournament
- The US$750,000 event beat out 32 other tournaments of similar stature for the top prize
- Fans’ passion, quality of staff, organisation and dedication to the sport are among the factors that influenced players
- The annual tournament is popular among players such as Naomi Osaka and Venus Williams
The passion shown for the tournament by fans, organisation, staff efficiency and dedication to the sport and athletes are among the factors identified by players that made Hong Kong stand out, according to the Hong Kong Tennis Association.
“Thanks to all our supporters!” local organisers said in a tweet. “#PHKTO2018 has outdone 32 other WTA International Series events worldwide in its category and been awarded ‘International Tournament of the Year’ at the 2018 WTA Tournament of the Year Awards!”
The US$750,000 tournament, held this year from October 6-14, attracted some of the world’s best players, including US Open champion and Japanese-Haitian sensation Naomi Osaka – and was won by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, who beat China’s Wang Qiang in the final.
The WTA Tour has four awards for tournaments based on their status on the tour. The highest-tier award – Premier Mandatory – went to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in Florida.
The Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome won the Premier 5 award and the Premier prize was taken by the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Hong Kong’s 32-draw women’s singles and 16-draw doubles tournament at Victoria Park earned best International tournament.
