Hong Kong Tennis Scores $2M Grant From Government For Next Year's WTA Event

Home Affairs Bureau Deputy Secretary Jonathan McKinley said that a $2M grant from the government to the Hong Kong Tennis Association "could be the first step towards the city boasting a bigger venue to host major tournaments," according to Alvin Sallay of SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Hong Kong "bought its way back on to the world circuit by tying up" with the WTA to stage an int'l event in Sept. '14 at Victoria Park. The event will be a WTA tier three tournament the week after next year's U.S. Open. It is believed that the government "had even been willing to support a men's professional tournament, but had to settler for a WTA event because of the unavailability of an ATP license on the market." Hong Kong "will officially own the women's tournament," which has been held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since '10. In addition to the $2M grant to purchase the license, "the government will also put up $250,000 toward prize money for the tournament, which will be a 32-strong draw plus a 24-strong qualifying draw (SCMP, 2/12).