Hong Kong Tennis Open: Azarenka, Russian pair to feature as tournament returns to city for first time in 5 years
- Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Russians Anastasia Potapova and Mirra Andreeva are among the main draw
- ‘Everyone should have an equal chance to participate. They are not coming to promote political messages,’ Hong Kong tennis boss Philip Mok says
Five years after Ukrainian Dayan Yastremska won the Hong Kong Open the tournament returns to the city for the first time next month, headlined by players from Russia and Belarus.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and the Russian pair of Anastasia Potapova and Mirra Andreeva are among the main draw, alongside China’s Wang Xiyu, Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil and 21-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Players from both nations were banned from playing at Wimbledon last year, and a number of WTA matches have been overshadowed by the refusal of the likes of Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina to shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus because of the continuing war in the region.
In a video message, two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka said she was “thrilled and excited” to be coming to Hong Kong. Local players Eudice Chong and Cody Wong will also take part.
And while officials said they were “not aware” of any Ukrainian players entering the Open, which runs from October 7th to 15th, tournament director Chris Lai said politics had played no part in who was invited.
“We focus mainly on the quality of the players, rather than political reasons [when choosing field],” he said.