The Hong Kong Open (currently respectively sponsored by Prudential and called the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (the WTA tournament); and sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) and called the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open (the ATP tournament)) is a professional tennis tournament in Hong Kong SAR. Organised by the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, the women's tournament is held annually during the Asian swing in early October in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay as a WTA 250 tournament; the men's tournament is held annually as a lead-up tournament to the Australian Open in early January as an ATP 250 tournament.
| Hong Kong Tennis Open | |
|---|---|
| Tournament information | |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Location | Hong Kong |
| Venue | Victoria Park, Causeway Bay |
| Category | WTA 250, ATP 250 |
| Surface | Hard / Outdoors |
| Draw | 32S / 16D / 16Q |
| Prize money | $259,303 |
| Website | hktennisopen.hk |
| Current champions (2024) | |
| Men's singles |  Andrey Rublev |
| Women's singles |  Leylah Fernandez |
| Men's doubles |  Marcelo Arevalo Mate Pavić |
| Women's doubles |  Tang Qianhui  Tsao Chia-yi |
| Hong Kong Open | |
|---|---|
| Tournament information | |
| Event name | Salem Open |
| Tour | ATP Tour (1990–2002) Grand Prix circuit (1973–1987) |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Location | Hong Kong |
| Venue | Victoria Park Tennis Centre |
| Surface | Hard (1973–2002) |
The Hong Kong Tennis Open was previously named the Salem Open that began in 1973 and discontinued in 2002. After a 21-year absence, the men's tournament resumed in January 2024. The women's tournament commenced in 1980 and was discontinued two years later. In 1993, the tournament returned for one year before being discontinued until 2014 where it has become a permanent fixture of the Asian swing on the WTA Tour.
History
editThe Hong Kong Open (also known as the Salem Open[1]) was also previously a men's tennis tournament that was held in Hong Kong on the Grand Prix tour from (1973–1987) and the ATP Tour from (1990–2002). Players competed in the Victoria Park Tennis Centre, on outdoor hard courts. Michael Chang held the record number of wins with three titles.
In 2001, as with legislation restricting tobacco sponsorship, organizers controversially altered its official logo to include the logo of Perrier, causing anti-smoking campaigners to claim that the organizers exploited a loophole in its sponsorship clause.[2]
The men's tournament was replaced in 2003 by the Thailand Open.
A women's competition was also held in Hong Kong from 1980 to 1982; and then once more in 1993, as a Tier IV event on the WTA Tour. Wendy Turnbull won two titles in this competition. Beginning in 2014, the Hong Kong Tennis Open resumed after a two decade absence, sponsored by the Hong Kong-based insurance company Prudential.[3] The tournament was honored as the WTA International Tournament of the Year in 2018.[4]
After the 2018 edition, the tournament was cancelled for 4 years due to the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests in 2019,[5] the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong in 2020 and 2021;[6] and in 2022, due to concerns regarding the security and well-being of tennis player Peng Shuai after her allegations of sexual assault against Chinese Communist Party leader Zhang Gaoli. The latter led to all WTA events in China, including Hong Kong, being suspended indefinitely.[7] In 2023, the WTA returned to Hong Kong and held its first edition since 2018 in 2023.[8]
As announced by the Association of Tennis Professionals in June 2023, the ATP 250 license belonging to Pune, Maharashtra was relocated to Hong Kong.[9] The first iteration of the tournament took place from 1–7 January on outdoor hard courts with a total prize money of more than $650,000. The tournament, sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong), is expected to be a stop for players on their way to the Australian Open.[10]
Results
editWomen's singles
edit| Year | Champion | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6–0, 6–2 | ||
| 1981 | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| 1982 | 6–3, 7–5 | ||
| 1983–1992 | not held | ||
| 1993 | 6–4, 3–6, 7–5 | ||
| 1994–2013 | not held | ||
| 2014 | 7–5, 6–3 | ||
| 2015 | 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–1 | ||
| 2016 | 6–1, 6–7(4–7), 6–2 | ||
| 2017 | 5–7, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) | ||
| 2018 | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
| 2019–22 | Not held | ||
| 2023 | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Women's doubles
edit| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6–1, 6–2 | ||
| 1981 | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| 1982 | 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 | ||
| 1983–1992 | Not held | ||
| 1993 | 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–2 | ||
| 1994–2013 | Not held | ||
| 2014 | 6–2, 2–6, [12–10] | ||
| 2015 | 7–5, 6–4 | ||
| 2016 | 6–3, 6–1 | ||
| 2017 | 6–1, 6–1 | ||
| 2018 | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
| 2019–22 | Not held | ||
| 2023 | 7–5, 1–6, [11–9] | ||
Men's singles
editMen's doubles
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Tobacco Ad Gallery (tobaccofreekids.org):Salem". Archived from the original on 21 December 2010.
- ^ "HONG KONG OPEN TENNIS IN TOBACCO CONTROVERSY". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Back again: Prudential confirms partnership as Hong Kong Tennis Open sponsor". South China Morning Post. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Tournament Info". Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "Hong Kong Open postponed due to protests". Evening Express. 12 September 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "CANCELLATION OF PRUDENTIAL HONG KONG TENNIS OPEN 2020". Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "WTA pulls tournaments from China, Hong Kong". Fox Business. December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Staff, T. C. (13 April 2023). "WTA to Resume Tournaments in China this Fall". Tennis Connected. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong benefits from India's misfortune with ATP Tour set to return to city". South China Morning Post. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "ATP Announces Return Of ATP 250 Event In Hong Kong | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour. Retrieved 1 October 2023.