Tournament Director Li Na: Hong Kong should pursue hosting even higher-level events

(HONG KONG) The atmosphere at the grand finale of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025 'Super October' sports spectacle has been electric, following a week where a veritable host of star players have made appearances over consecutive days, exciting enthusiastic tennis fans with thrilling matches.

As the event enters its final days, Chinese tennis pioneer Li Na, Asia's first women’s Grand Slam singles champion, now serving her second term as Tournament Director, has been immersed in all aspects of the event, from player hospitality and scheduling to overseeing fan interactions. She has also been fully engaged with the participating players, sharing valuable experiences, while offering encouragement to Hong Kong's local tennis players.

This year's tournament has boasted a stellar lineup, attracting not only top players including Sofia Kenin, Leylah Fernandez, Katie Boulter, and Shuai Zhang to compete in Hong Kong again, but also featuring new first-time visitors such as Belinda Bencic, Victoria Mboko, Anna Kalinskaya, and Alexandra Eala.

The attraction of the event for so many of the world’s top players has not been lost on Li Na. "Last year, I mentioned that I hoped players competing here would be willing to return to Hong Kong in the future,” she explained. “Therefore, I have been absolutely delighted to see so many familiar faces this year, along with many new players, forming such an exciting lineup."

One of Li Na's key responsibilities was to serve as the liaison between the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association and the WTA, ensuring all arrangements complied with WTA regulations and guidelines. She also focused on helping players maintain a healthy balance between competition, rest, sightseeing, and fan interaction. She has meticulously arranged for players to tour Hong Kong during breaks in their schedule, allowing competitors from around the world to fully experience the city's unique charm. Additionally, personalized arrangements have been made to meet individual player’s specific needs, ensuring every athlete can compete at their best and feel thoroughly at home throughout the event.

To further enhance the tournament's quality and spectator experience, Li Na also conducted local site visits before the competition to the Kai Tak Sports Park and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Talent Training Centre. She drew insights from the successful experiences of Hong Kong's top-tier sports facilities and training institutions, exploring how to integrate sports, entertainment, and public participation to create a uniquely captivating sports carnival. She has also participated in fan activities, including the autograph sessions in the Tournament Village, personally experiencing both the vibrant atmosphere and the enthusiastic passion of Hong Kong’s tennis fans.

Li Na has also expressed her delight at the significant breakthroughs made by Team Hong Kong players Cody Wong and Eudice Chong at this year’s tournament, in securing their first main draw victories since first participating in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. She recently joined them during their practice sessions, sharing her personal tennis insights and encouraging them to continue improving while developing as important role models for young local players.

"This year’s 'Super October' of Hong Kong tennis has ignited a city-wide tennis fever, with the concluding Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open now pushing fan enthusiasm to its peak,” she explained. “I am thrilled to see the continuous, year-on-year, improvement in Hong Kong's tennis standards and its rapidly evolving world-class event management capabilities. The city has a growing reputation within the international tennis community, whilst enjoying a significant increase in the local fan base, and ever-increasing support from tennis sponsors.”

“Based on feedback from players and my personal observations over the past two years, I believe the timing is ripe to upgrade our tournament level. Hong Kong is now well-positioned to bid for even higher-level WTA events and well-geared to host many other highly-diverse tennis competitions to exceed fan’s desires and expectations while establishing Hong Kong as a leading tennis hub in Asia.”