Hong Kong, China – 20th July 2024 – The last time Hong Kong, China contested for Group I promotion in the Billie Jean King Cup, the team trailed Uzbekistan by a set in the deciding doubles before a come-from-behind win sealed the deal in 2017. This time round, there was no such drama, as both Cody Wong Hong Yi and Eudice Chong powered to straight-set victories in the singles to beat Malaysia 2-0 in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.
Since the turn of this century, Hong Kong, China has earned promotion to Asia/Oceania Group I five times: 2001, 2006, 2014, 2017, and now 2024.
HKCTA President Michael Cheng: “This result is a fantastic follow-up to our Davis Cup team’s earlier victory this year. We are building the Team Hong Kong concept, bringing the community together and really trying to maximise every opportunity to further the development of tennis in Hong Kong. We’re on a good upward trajectory and the players are committed and working hard towards a common goal.”
“The HKCTA is initiating a new set-up whereby the captaincy is a longer-term appointment in order to create a better continuity and tradition, and to bring in young players with potential to train and shadow the BJKC team, so that they can learn, while showing them a clear developmental path,” he added.
Captain Zhang Ling, who beat the opposing Uzbek No. 1 in that Group II final in 2017: “It’s been several years now since our last promotion in 2017 but this year we are rallying around a new Team Hong Kong initiative. We prepared the best way possible by competing in two ITF Women’s Futures tournaments before the tie and dedicated a solid week of training with Coach Andy Lau’s and hitting partner support, so all our nominated players Eudice Chong, Cody Wong, Tiffany Wu, Maggie Ng, Justine Leong, as well as the two up-and-coming juniors we brought along, Vienna Lai and Jane Wong, are in good condition.”
This year’s Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group II consisted of eleven teams, which were divided into three pools A, B, and C for the initial stage. The winner of each pool then advanced to a three-team round robin for the playoff stage. The top 2 teams to emerge from the playoffs are promoted to Asia/Oceania Group I in 2025.
- Pool A: Thailand (1), Indonesia, Iran
- Pool B: Mongolia (2), Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan
- Pool C: Uzbekistan (3), Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan
1st-3rd Place Playoff: Thailand (2-0), Hong Kong, China (1-1), Malaysia (0-2)
Thailand and Hong Kong, China promoted to Group I.
In the crucial playoff match against Malaysia, Cody Wong broke serve five times to beat junior world No. 536 Jo-Leen Saw 6-3 6-2 to give Hong Kong an early 1-0 lead. At the top of the lineup, Hong Kong No. 1 Eudice Chong saved four break points and broke Elsa Wan five times to win 6-3 6-1 to give the team an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The last time Hong Kong, China earned promotion to Group I was in 2017 when the team beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in the Group II final that year.
About the Billie Jean King Cup
The Billie Jean King Cup – formerly known as Federation Cup (1963-1995) and Fed Cup (1995-2020) – was launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). It is now the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with a record 132 nations competing in 2023. Many of the game’s all-time greats, along with the current crop of talents, have featured in the competition throughout its history, e.g. Billie Jean King, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, to name a few.
- 2001 PHI 3-0
- 2006 SYR 3-0
- 2009 KAZ 0-3
- 2011 INA 1-2
- 2012 IND 1-2
- 2013 INA 0-2
- 2014 PHI 2-1
- 2017 UZB 2-1
- 2019 UZB 1-2
- 2022 THA 0-2