Hong Kong Open (tennis) explained

Hong Kong Tennis Open
Logo Size:250px
City:Hong Kong
Founded:1980
Venue:Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Tier:WTA 250, ATP 250
Surface:Hard / Outdoors
Draw:32S / 16D / 16Q
Prize Money:$259,303
Website:hktennisopen.hk
Completed Event:2024
Men's Doubles: Marcelo Arevalo
Mate Pavić
Women's Singles: Leylah Fernandez
Women's Doubles: Tang Qianhui
Tsao Chia-yi
Hong Kong Open
Event Name:Salem Open
Location:Hong Kong
Venue:Victoria Park Tennis Centre
Tour:ATP Tour (1990–2002)
Grand Prix circuit (1973–1987)
Surface:Hard (1973–2002)

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.

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

The 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

Women's singles

YearChampionRunners-upScore
1980 6–0, 6–2
1981 Wendy Turnbull (2) 6–3, 6–4
1982 6–3, 7–5
1983–1992 not held
1993 6–4, 3–6, 7–5
1994–2013 not held
7–5, 6–3
3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–1
6–1, 6–7(4–7), 6–2
5–7, 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
6–2, 6–1
2019–22 Not held
3–6, 6–4, 6–4

Women's doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1980 Silvana Urroz
Penny Johnson
6–1, 6–2
1981 Ann Kiyomura
Sharon Walsh (2)
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
6–2, 2–6, [12–10]
7–5, 6–4
6–3, 6–1
Chan Hao-ching (2)
Chan Yung-jan (2)
6–1, 6–1
6–4, 6–4
2019–22 Not held
7–5, 1–6, [11–9]

Men's singles

YearChampionRunners-upScore
1973 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1974 Not completed due to rain
1975 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1976 1–6, 6–4, 7–6, 6–0
1977 Ken Rosewall (2) 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
1978 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1979 7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1980 5–7, 7–6, 6–3
1981 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
1982 6–3, 6–3
1983 6–1, 6–1
1984 6–3, 6–2
1985 Andrés Gómez (2) 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1986 7–6, 6–0, 7–5
1987 Eliot Teltscher (2) 6–7, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–5
1988–89 Not held
1990 6–3, 6–4
1991 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1992 7–5, 6–3
1993 6–3, 6–7(1–7), 7–6(7–2)
1994 6–1, 6–3
1995 6–3, 6–1
1996 Pete Sampras (2) 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1997 Michael Chang (3) 6–3, 6–3
1998 6–2, 6–0
1999 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–4
2000 7–6(7–4), 2–6, 6–2
7–6(7–3), 6–2
6–3, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
2003–23 Not held
6–4, 6–4

Men's doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1973 6–3, 5–7, 17–15
1974 Not completed due to rain
1975 6–3, 6–4
1976 6–4, 6–2
1977 7–6, 6–3
1978 5–7, 7–6, 6–1
1979 6–3, 6–4
1980 7–5, 6–2
1981 6–4, 7–6
1982 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1983 6–2, 6–2
1984 6–7, 6–3, 7–5
1985 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1986 7–6, 6–7, 7–5
1987 6–7, 6–4, 6–2
1988–89 Not held
1990 6–3, 6–3
1991 6–2, 6–4
1992 6–2, 6–1
1993 6–1, 6–3
1994 W/O
1995 6–1, 6–7, 7–6
1996 6–3, 6–7, 7–6
1997 6–3, 6–4
1998 7–5, 6–1
1999 W/O
2000 6–1, 6–2
6–0, 7–5
6–7, 6–4, 7–6
2003–23 Not held
7–6(7–3), 6–4

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tobacco Ad Gallery (tobaccofreekids.org):Salem. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101221124644/http://tobaccofreekids.org/adgallery/index.php3?Brand=7. 21 December 2010.
  2. Web site: HONG KONG OPEN TENNIS IN TOBACCO CONTROVERSY. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110526124115/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/139274/hong-kong-open-tennis-in-tobacco-controversy. 26 May 2011.
  3. Web site: 2016-06-21 . Back again: Prudential confirms partnership as Hong Kong Tennis Open sponsor . 2023-12-06 . South China Morning Post . en.
  4. Web site: Tournament Info. Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2019. 2019-07-15.
  5. Web site: Hong Kong Open postponed due to protests. . 2019-09-12. Evening Express. 2019-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20190922080843/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/sport/hong-kong-open-postponed-due-to-protests/. 22 September 2019. dead.
  6. Web site: CANCELLATION OF PRUDENTIAL HONG KONG TENNIS OPEN 2020 . 2023-12-06 . Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2023 . en-US.
  7. Web site: WTA pulls tournaments from China, Hong Kong . . December 2021 . 1 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Staff . T. C. . 2023-04-13 . WTA to Resume Tournaments in China this Fall . 2023-12-06 . Tennis Connected . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2023-06-10 . Hong Kong benefits from India's misfortune with ATP Tour set to return to city . 2023-10-01 . South China Morning Post . en.
  10. Web site: ATP Announces Return Of ATP 250 Event In Hong Kong ATP Tour Tennis . 2023-10-01 . ATP Tour.