Li Na, the former first sister of Chinese tennis, is about to return to tennis in another capacity next month. On September 11, Cheng Ming-che, president of the Hong Kong Tennis Association, announced that Li Na will serve as the tournament director of this year's WTA 250 Hong Kong Open.
Li Na herself did not attend the press conference, but she shared her feelings in a video. "Hong Kong's traditional culture and bustling modern metropolis are impressive, and players and fans can enjoy top-notch international tennis tournaments while experiencing the unique charm of Asia's prosperous capital. I want to see world-class players compete and use my experience to help them break through and succeed. ”
This is the seventh time that the Hong Kong Open has been held since its first event in 2014. As the final tournament at the end of the season, this year's Hong Kong Open can be described as a star-studded event, with former US Open champion Chinese star Raducanu, defending champion and former US Open runner-up Fernandes, French Open women's doubles champion Wang Xinyu, Chinese Wimbledon quarter-finalist Sun Lulu, and former world No. 1 Halep all participating in this year's Hong Kong tournament.
Chairman Cheng Ming-che revealed at the press conference that the Hong Kong Open is applying to be upgraded to a WTA 500 event. The Hong Kong Open, which won the WTA Best International Event in 2018, said Hong Kong had the opportunity to host a higher-level tennis event.
This year's Hong Kong Open will be held between October 26 and November 3, with qualifying rounds on the 26th and 27th, and the main draw starting on the 28th.