Olympics Gold medallist and WTA1000 China Open 2026 singles champion Zheng Qinwen will be making her debut at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (“PHKTO”) this year, while pioneering tennis legend Venus Williams has announced her long-awaited return to the prestigious tournament.
PHKTO 2026, with a total prize purse of more than USD280,000, will be held at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Stadium from 31 October to 8 November 2026.
Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature events in the territory sports calendar.
Known for her powerful baseline game and relentless competitive drive, the Chinese fan favourite Zheng won Gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming the first-ever Asian tennis player to win an Olympic singles Gold.
Zheng also reached the final at the Australian Open and the WTA Year-end Finals in 2024, making it the best season thus far of her career. Following runs to the quarter-finals at the 2024 US Open and the 2025 French Open, the Hubei-player reached her highest singles ranking of No. 4 in June 2025.
An elbow surgery kept her off the tour for much of the second half of the 2025 season, but the 23-year-old has made a strong comeback this year, reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open as a qualifier, and just this past weekend, the Chinese superstar romped through the singles draw to win her sixth WTA Tour title at the China Open, becoming the first home player to win the WTA1000 event.
A resurgent Zheng said, “I am delighted to be playing in front of the fans in Hong Kong for the very first time. I have heard many great things about the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and I am looking forward to finishing the China Season and my 2026 season there. It has been a tough 18 months, but I am very pleased with my recovery journey and hope to compete well at Victoria Park.”
Williams, winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, has competed in the PHKTO three times, making the semi-finals on her debut in 2015. The 46-year-old has won a total of 49 titles in her career, including the Grand Slam Cup (1998), the WTA Year-end Finals (2008), and Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
This year, the legend’s fans are in for some double happiness as Williams will also compete in the doubles. Pairing up with doubles specialist and world No. 24 Xu Yifan from China, the superstar will look to add to the 22 doubles titles she has captured over her 32-year career.
The Florida-based Williams is also a 14-time women’s doubles champion, and completed her career doubles Grand Slam when she won the Australian Open in 2001 with her sister, Serena Williams.
The American has secured two Grand Slam mixed doubles crowns too, winning both the Australian and French Opens in 1998 with fellow American Justin Gimelstob, cementing her reputation as one of the world’s best doubles players in the Open Era.
Williams said, “I am really excited to be returning to compete at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and finishing my 2026 season in this beautiful city. I have such fond memories of Hong Kong when I played there a decade ago, and I can’t wait to go back to play in front of my fans there and thank them for their support through the years.”
PHKTO is the last stop on the WTA regular tour and part of the China Tennis Season. The event is a three-time winner of the WTA 250 Tournament of the Year Award – in 2018, 2024, and 2025.
Trailblazer and world No. 18 Alexandra Eala, China No. 1 Wang Xinyu, PHKTO 2024 singles champion Diana Shnaider, two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini, former world No. 2 Paula Badosa, former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari, and three-time Grand Slam singles quarter-finalist Sorana Cirstea have already confirmed their participation at the event.
Tickets are available via Ticketflap (https://www.tickets.tennishk.org/hkts-wta250-2026) with prices ranging from HK$180 to HK$1,070. A 50% discount is available on Cat 2 tickets for persons aged 18 or below, full-time students, and seniors aged 60 or above.
For the latest tournament updates, please visit the tournament website at https://www.hktennisopen.hk/en/