Hong Kong can become hub for not just Greater Bay Area but also Asia, says tennis boss
Michael Cheng also says more players could come to the city to prepare for tournaments, as China’s No 1 player Zhang Zhizhen has just done
Hong Kong’s tennis chief said the city has the potential to become a tennis hub for not just the Greater Bay Area but also of Asia.
Michael Cheng Ming-git, president of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, also hinted that more players would come to Hong Kong to train ahead of, or amid, tournaments around the region, in the wake of China’s No 1 men’s player Zhang Zhizhen just wrapping up a week-long practice stint at Victoria Park on Sunday.
“Zhang’s visit was a test case for us – Hong Kong is shaping up to be a tennis hub for the GBA,” he said. “With the same court, surface and balls used, and arguably similar weather and with professional training infrastructure, we have all the natural ingredients to be an ATP training facility and recovery centre.
“Having top players coming to the city for preseason training shows we are getting the infrastructure and training facilities right, and hence we are attracting top talent to Hong Kong; we are building a brand to be a boutique tennis hub in Asia.”
Cheng added that the period leading up to the Australian Open – the first grand slam of a season – as well as the China Swing from September to November are the two periods when players are most likely to come through.
“We offer the same playing conditions as the Australian Open; we are perfectly located for players on their way down to Australia,” he said. “It also gives the players a unique chance to experience Hong Kong on their way down to Melbourne.
