Tassels defeated Pacific 4-3 to capture the inaugural HKTF Tennis Challenge 2010, an event that, at last count, raised over HK$300,000 of net proceeds for the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation to support junior tennis development in Hong Kong.
Twenty-nine teams went into a 32-draw field initially with first round winners advancing to the maindraws (i.e., Platinum or Gold), while losing teams advance to the consolation draws (i.e., Silver or Bronze).
Teams that win first up in the maindraws advance to the Platinum Draw, while losing teams went to the Gold Draw. Similarly, teams that post a win first up in the consolations progress to the Silver Draw, while losing teams place themselves in the Bronze Draw.
Format of play is a 7-game set, with no ad scoring, and there are no restrictions on age or standard of play for participants.
In the Platinum Draw, Tassels beat Racketing Reeds 6-1 and Wildfire 4-3 in the first round and semis respectively to progress to the final. From the opposite half, Pacific overcame Firebolt 5-2 and then Robin Fok & Tommy Lam in the semifinals 4-3 to earn a date with Tassels.
In the end, Tassels (John Yuen & Jonathan Chu) narrowly defeated Pacific (Coenie Van Wyk & Stephen Wong Sheung Yin) 4-3 to claim the inaugural HKTF Tennis Challenge.
Now working in private equity, Jonathan Chu is a former touring professional with a career-best ATP Ranking of No. 527 in singles (28 Aug 2006) and No. 461 in doubles (12 Jun 2006). A recipient of the Ivy League Player of the Year Award in 2005, he boasts having had career wins against American No. 2 John Isner, local ace Yu Hiu Tung, and former Chinese number ones Sun Peng and Wang Yu, Jr. on the ITF Men's Futures Circuit.
Coenie Van Wyk, a former top junior from South Africa and a three-time NAIA All-American from Auburn University at Montgomery, was previously ranked as high as No. 602 in singles (10 Sep 2001) and No. 414 in doubles (28 Jan 2002) on the ATP Tour.
On the other hand, Stephen Wong, aged 9, is an HKTA Feeder Squad member and he is currently the No. 5-ranked player in Hong Kong's B10 age group.
Meanwhile in the Gold Draw, Jardine Matheson (James Riley & Marcus Thompson) upended Kee Wah Bakery (Kenneth Wong & Ronald Yin) 4-3 in the semifinals before conjuring another closely fought decision to beat Sunrise Aluminum 4-3 in the final.
In the Silver Draw, the team of Victor Cheung & Igor Robovic defeated the father and son duo of Ken Grant and Colin Grant in the final 4-3.
Last, but not least, USRC (Gary Sze & Derek Ling) notched successive 6-1 victories against The Baby Boomers (Louis Bowen & Eden Woon) and Lo & Lo (Vincent Liang & Wu Ho Ching) respectively to captures the Bronze Draw.
The award winners are as follows:
Top Fundraising Team – Tassels (1st), Wildfire (2nd), Abigail (3rd)
Sportsmanship Award – Lifetime Warranty
Best-Dressed Award – Speedy Gonzales (decided by on site voting)
Mr. Oscar Chow, Chairman of the HKTF Fundraising Committee, enthused, "I am very happy that the inaugural HKTF Tennis Challenge was a big success. The event was able to get a group of over 60 tennis enthusiasts and their respective friends and family members together for a full day of exciting tennis. It was an opportunity for everyone to socialise with old friends and new, as well as raising over HK$300,000 of net proceeds for the HKTF to support junior tennis development in Hong Kong."
"I look forward to seeing the HKTF Tennis Challenge become a key event in the HK tennis calendar in the years ahead. I would like to thank the Patrons, sponsors, participating teams, the HKTA team and the volunteers for their hard work and contributions," he added.
"We were extremely delighted with the success of the tournament," said HKTA General Manager, Mrs. Janet Hardisty. "It was an innovative idea from the HKTF Fundraising Committee Chairman, which proved to be so popular that several of the participants suggested it should be held more than once a year even!"
"We would like to thank all the players that joined us on that day, especially Wildfire and Pacific Coffee for sponsoring breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. And in particular, HEAD, Bollé, Doctor's Choice, NIVEA, BonActive & Bonaqua for their generous support. Several TA coaches helped out as well, Ronald, Nicolas, Vlatka, Dilip, Leo and our Tour Group player, Wu Ho Ching."
The Draws | The Players | The Photo Gallery
About the HKTF
In April 1988, a group of tennis enthusiasts dedicated to furthering the cause of tennis here in the territory got together to form the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation (HKTF). Its objective is to promote and develop tennis in Hong Kong with the ultimate goal of raising the standards to match those found elsewhere in the world.
Former Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, first chaired this influential body. The current Chairman is Dr. Philip Kwok, who was also the Immediate Past President of the HKTA. The General Manager, who also assumes the same responsibilities for the HKTA, handles the day-to-day operation of the Foundation. The HKTF meets, on average, once every two months, with the main agenda pertaining to the financial support of junior tennis development in Hong Kong.
Over the years, the HKTF had received, at one time or another, financial support from the Hong Kong government, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, and the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association (organizers of the Marlboro Championships and the Watsons Water Champions Challenge).
The HKTF organizes an annual fundraiser, for instance, by way of a raffle ticket sale, or on other occasions, a Tennis Pro-Am Challenge. These fund-raising events have become a time-honoured part of the Hong Kong tennis calendar and a great deal of support is contributed from the local business community, tennis players, coaches, and clubs, as well as councils from the HKTF and HKTA.
