Hong Kong Open: City ‘deprived’ of elite tennis for too long, says English star Broady, home pair out on day 1
- Liam Broady says city’s wait for an elite men’s tennis tournament went on too long, Englishman praises centre court atmosphere
- Hong Kong pair Wong Tsz-fu and Jack Wong out on day one, while organisers decline to comment on pollution threat
Liam Broady targeted an extended run at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, and said the return of the elite men’s game to the city was long overdue, after beating Tunisia’s Aziz Dougaz in singles qualifying on a boisterous centre court at Victoria Park.
The world No 108 will play in a final qualifier on Monday against Roman Burruchaga, who the Englishman admitted he had “never seen before” this tournament, which ends a 2o-year wait for an ATP Tour event in Hong Kong.
Home players Wong Tsz-fu, 18, and 25-year-old Jack Wong Hong-kit were both soundly beaten, although the teenager showed plenty of character before succumbing to experienced Taro Daniel.
Broady, who turns 30 on Thursday, squandered two match points, but quickly recovered his composure to close out a 6-3, 6-3 victory, before declaring Hong Kong “one of my favourite cities in the world”.
“Hong Kong has been deprived of a tournament for too long and I am so pleased tennis has come back here,” Broady told the Post.
“You do not very often see an atmosphere like this in the qualifiers for an ATP 250 competition. The people in Asia love tennis, and the organisers have made a really good effort with the tournament. The courts are freshly painted and the park is a great tennis venue.”
