(December 13, 2024, Hong Kong) The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (“PHKTO”) today announced that it has been awarded the ‘WTA 250 International Tournament of the Year’ at the 2024 Women’s Tennis Association’s Tournament of the Year Awards, ahead of 22 other WTA International Series events held around the world in its category. It represents the second occasion the PHKTO has won the award, after the 2018 edition.

The annual awards are determined by WTA players’ votes based on the tournament’s overall excellence in staffing and organization, fan passion and dedication to the sport and its athletes amongst other factors.

The ‘M’ Mark recognized event, which took place at Victoria Park from 26 October to 3 November, enjoyed an attendance of over 50,000 locals and fans from Mainland China and around the world throughout the event period, and garnered fulsome praise during the tournament itself from luminaries of the game including Tournament Director Li Na, two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Simona Halep and WTA Supervisor Ms. Clare Wood, among many others. Special guest, four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Naomi Osaka also spoke highly of Hong Kong.

Besides acknowledging the tournament being the best they had attended this year, they were impressed by the great food and the unique culture and many tourist attractions. They also remarked on the tournament’s convenient stadium venue location with the hotel accommodation and local cafes and shopping all in close proximity, making it a relaxed and totally enjoyable experience for players, guests and overseas officials. The accolades demonstrate Hong Kong’s capability to host top-tier tennis tournaments, enhancing the city’s renowned status in the international sports arena.

This year’s PHKTO was star-studded, featuring not only Britain’s No. 1 Katie Boulter and defending champion Leylah Fernandez, but also some Chinese players including Yuan Yue, Wang Xiyu, and Paris Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist Wang Xinyu, allowing fans to witness their talents. Top-seed and rising star of the game 20-year-old Diana Shnaider crowned champion in singles. The doubles title was won by the Norwegian and Japanese duo of Ulrikke Eikeri and Makoto Ninomiya.

This year’s tournament saw the appointment of China’s legendary two-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 2, Li Na, as the Tournament Director. In addition to a wide range of community-based player’s visits, clinics and tourist sight-seeing activities, the event also hosted the Tournament Village which was open to the public for free. Exciting activities included the debut of the ‘Chill Fun @ Hong Kong Market Place,’ which added extra fun to the festivities, providing tennis fans, young and old, with a memorable tennis experience. The tournament also collaborated with a dream team of master chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants to provide fine dining experiences in “The Culinary Room,” enhancing the overall tournament experience.

Commenting on the award, Li Na, Tournament Director of Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2024, said, “I am delighted that HKCTA and title sponsor Prudential Hong Kong have been honored with Tournament of the Year award recognition once again. I am thrilled to have been involved this year in an event that has enjoyed unanimous recognition from the WTA and participating players.”

Mr. Michael Cheng, President of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, said, “This award is the best recognition of the hard work of everyone at HKCTA and particularly coming in a year that saw the launch of the Hong Kong Tennis Season, with our stated aim to further develop the sport of tennis in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, while enhancing the city’s international status as the region’s premier sports and events destination. We would like to thank the government, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), and all our sponsors for their unwavering support in making this award possible.”

As part of the Hong Kong Tennis Season, the overwhelming success of the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and the inaugural Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125, has reinforced Hong Kong’s international reputation as a sporting destination, not only delivering a tennis feast for Hong Kong fans but also providing local elite players with the opportunity to compete alongside many of the world’s very best women’s players whilst promoting the future grassroots development of the sport in the city.

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