Star Games Pays Hong Kong Tennis Association, World Tennis Day Rocks 58 Nations

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th February 2014

Star Games Pays Hong Kong Tennis Association, World Tennis Day Rocks 58 Nations |

Photo by Brett Connors Photography

The organizers of the BNP Paribas Showdown and the Hong Kong Tennis Association have put their dispute behind them when the association received the money they had requested.

There had been a dispute about how much the Hong Kong Tennis Association was owed in fees from the 2013 event, but Herbert Chow Siu-lung, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association, told the South China Morning Post that they received the received the money on Friday.

“The outstanding amount of US$40,000, the service fee from last year’s World Tennis Day and Showdown, has been paid and now we can look at talking to them about possible support for this year’s event,” said Chow.

However, Chow added the HKTA wants to be paid up front to provide backing for the March 3 event that features Li Na, Samantha Stosur, Thomas Berdych and Lleyton Hewitt at the Tseung Kwan O velodrome.

“We will be looking for a reasonable fee to be paid up front so as to avoid the repeat of last year’s delinquency,” Chow said.

The BNP Paribas Showdown, which promoter Jerry Solomon of Star Games runs, may not need the association’s support and could end up providing its own officials and ball boys.

Chow said that last year the association provided administration staff, ball boys and girls and transport.

“They got all this for free last time, and only after we complained about them not having a budget for anything they offered us this US$40,000. The only people they paid last year were the umpire and the linesmen. We are asking for a fee as the International Tennis Federation (which also supports the event as it is part of World Tennis Day) and are definitely in this as a business together. To us, this is a commercial venture and it is not right for us to use our government subsidized staff to help them make more money.”

The second World Tennis Day will take place on March 3 in a bid to promote tennis and increase participation among players around the globe.

World Tennis Day 2014 will center around a series of high-profile special events, produced by StarGames, featuring current and former professional players, enhanced by activities generated by the ITF’s National Associations around the globe.

In 2014, the number of cities hosting Showdown events has increased from two to three, with events taking place in Hong Kong, London and New York. Each Showdown will feature current or former professionals, all of whom have either been ranked No. 1 in the world or reached a Grand Slam final, if not both.

It was recently announced that Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Pat Cash and Ivan Lendl will take part in London’s World Tennis Day Showdown, presented by Financial Times, at Earls Court Two.

Last year’s inaugural World Tennis Day saw support from 58 nations.