Hong Kong Paid $2 Million For Tournament Sanction

Written by: Resendiz on 14th February 2013

Hong Kong Paid $2 Million For Tournament Sanction

epa02553068 Li Na of China holds a Chinese flag on the eve of her women singles final against Kim Clijsters of Belgium at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 28 January 2011. Li Na is the first Chinese player to reach a tennis grand slam final. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

The price of hosting tournaments certainly isn’t cheap these days. Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau deputy secretary Jonathan McKinley told the South China Morning Post that the government gave $2 million dollars to the Hong Kong Tennis Association to buy a WTA International Series (Tier III) tournament the week after the 2014 US Open.

“We were lucky to get this event,” McKinley said. “There was nothing available on the ATP circuit.”

Hong Kong’s sanction came from the tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which has hosted it since 2010. Apparently, the government was not willing to back both and WTA and ATP events.

Hong Kong has hosted exhibitions over the years, but has not had a pro tournament since the Salem Open moved to Beijing in 2003.

“I am really excited about the WTA tournament that is coming to Hong Kong in 2014. It will put Hong Kong back on the world map of tennis and we are very grateful to the government for paving the way,” said the Hong Kong Tennis Association’s Vincent Liang,

The government apparently doesn’t have that much faith in the association’s ability to immediately draw sponsors as it will also put up $250,000 in prize money. The tournament will be played at Victoria Park, which seats 3,600 spectators.

“If this tournament is successful, we will consider looking at building a bigger venue than the one at Victoria Park, but first we have to see how well this event is received by the public,” McKinley said

The tournament is hoping to get top 10 player Li Na of China to play, but if the tournament wants two top 10 players, it must double its prize money under WTA rules.

McKinley said it’s up to the association to raise more money.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: China Tennis news, Hong Kong Tennis Association, Hong Kong tennis news, Jonathan McKinley, South China morning post, Sports, Tennis