Earlier today at the sun-drenched, 34°C ITF Women's Circuit in Khonkaen, qualifier Venise Chan defeated China's 994th-ranked Lu Jia-Xiang, 7-6(3), 6-3, to reach her fifth pro circuit final since debuting in November 2005.  Standing in her way of a third career title is Lu Jia-Xiang's twin sister, Lu Jia-Jing (WTA 660), who disposed of No. 2 seed Chen Yan-Chong (WTA 397) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Lu Jia-Jing, an 18-year-old from Liaoning, has had some encouraging results on the pro circuit this year.

She managed to qualify for the C25 Incheon and C25 Gimcheon in successive weeks back in April, and also reached the semifinals at last week's C10 Chiangmai before losing to eventual champion, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, in a deciding set, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1.

Since making her pro circuit debut in May 2004, Lu Jia-Jing had also registered wins against the likes of Ayumi Morita at the 2007 Beijing Open qualies, 269th-ranked Seiko Okamoto, and twice against 397th-ranked Chen Yan-Chong over the course of the past fortnight.

Last year, the teenager also won through three rounds of qualies to reach the maindraw of the C50 Guangzhou. Tomorrow, however, she will be contesting her first career final on the ITF Women's Circuit.

On the other hand, the Hong Kong Fed Cupper will be gunning to win her third title since bagging the C10 Manila 1 in November 2005 and the C10 Bangkok in July 2006.

Unless records suggest otherwise, in claiming the C10 Manila 1, Venise Chan became the first player from Hong Kong (male or female) to win a maiden singles title on their pro circuit debut.

Having said that, low level prize money events for women were few and far between until the mid-1980s.

Case in point: Efforts by the European Tennis Association and the United States Tennis Association had achieved a total of US$340,000 in low level prize money events during 1983, which covered some 26 tournaments in Europe and 14 in the USA.

Yet only three other events of US$10,000 existed elsewhere, all of which were held in Australia only.

The need to establish such pro circuit events at the "apprenticeship" level, according to the ITF, was clearly critical to the development of women's tennis in general, since it became possible for home-grown players (be it in South America, Africa, Middle East, or Asia, etc) to earn computer points in their own regions before embarking on the more competitive circuits in Europe and North America against more seasoned and accomplished players.

By the end of 1986, primarily through the Grand Slam Trust Fund initiative, some 12 weeks of tennis in South America became a reality, offering roughly US$60,000 in prize money.

While circuits continued to grow and expand in Europe and the US, it was only until then that Asia responded with a 14-week circuit that offered some US$115,000 in total prize money.

The ITF Women's Circuit thus provides entry-level tournaments enabling players the opportunity to reach events at the WTA Tour-level eventually. Today, the ITF Women's Circuit offers some 400 tournaments in 60 countries worldwide and has five prize money levels: US$10,000, US$25,000, US$50,000, US$75,000 and US$100,000 that total in excess of US$8.5 million.

In essence, this meant former Hong Kong greats Patricia Hy and Paulette Moreno were not exposed to the plentiful competitive opportunities that current standouts such as Venise Chan, Zhang Ling or Jessica Yang enjoy.

Regardless, during her career that saw her peak at No. 28 in singles (8 March 1993) and No. 36 in doubles (30 Mar 1987), Patricia Hy, according to www.sonyericssonwtatour.com, has won one WTA Tour singles title, one WTA Tour doubles title, four ITF Women's Circuit singles titles, and five ITF Women's Circuit Doubles titles.

As for Paulette Moreno, who peaked at a career-best No. 231 in singles (15 Feb 1988) and No. 178 in doubles (18 Feb 1988), during her career, she has totaled five doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Nevertheless, nothing should be taken away from Venise Chan's achievement as a 16-year-old.

Although it is often subjective and rather impracticable to compare the results of players from different eras, most notably since the standard of play of their opponents in general may vary significantly from year to year, consider this though: It took former local No. 1 and the territory's most decorated Fed Cupper, former WTA No. 236, Tong Ka Po, a dozen tournaments before she finally captured her maiden C10 title at Manila in November 1998 after she had made her debut back in August 1997.

Alternatively, between Patricia Hy's last ITF Women's Circuit win at the C25 Chicago in May 1989 and Tong Ka Po's maiden singles in November 1998, no player from the territory has won a singles title on the pro circuit.

Further, between November 1998 and November 2005, no other player from Hong Kong other than Tong Ka Po has won a singles title on the ITF Women's Circuit either.

Well, at least until Venise's triumphant entrance, that is.

Results
US$10,000 ITF Women's Circuit
The Srichaphan Tennis Academy
Khonkaen, Thailand
August 18-24, 2008

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Semifinals
(q)Venise Chan (HKG) d. Lu Jia-Xiang (CHN) 7-6(3) 6-3

Quarterfinals
(q)Venise Chan (HKG) d. (q)Kang Seo-Kyung (KOR) 6-2 7-5

Second Round
(q)Venise Chan (HKG) d. (5)Ankita Bhambri (IND) 6-2 6-4

First Round
Varatchaya Wongteanchai (THA) d. (q)Jessica Yang (HKG) 6-3 1-6 7-5
(q)Venise Chan (HKG) d. Thuy-Dung Nguyen (VIE) 6-1 6-1