Hong Kong Tennis Open makes long-awaited return – will it spark Ukraine-Russia controversy?
- Tournament back on calendar for the first time in five years, with organisers hoping to boost the city’s recovery after the pandemic
- Event features host of marquee names, including 2018 winner Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, who could meet Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka or one of several Russians
The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open began on Saturday, with day one of qualifying marking the event’s highly anticipated return to the calendar five years after it was last staged.
The late addition of 2018 winner Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine raised the intriguing possibility of a match against one of the tournament’s several Russians, or Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Yastremska has previously said she supported a ban for players from Russia, over its invasion of her country, and its ally Belarus – something Wimbledon imposed in 2022 before rowing back on that decision this year.
The home trio of Eudice Chong, Cody Wong Hong-yi and Tiffany Wu will learn their first-round opponents when the main draw is made on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s Maggie Ng, Ching Laam Lai and Che Sin-yu lost qualifying matches at Victoria Park on Saturday. Final qualifying on Sunday will finalise the 32-player field for Monday’s opening round.
The tournament begins three weeks after the resumption of women’s tennis in mainland China following a 16-month boycott by governing body the WTA.
