The Hong Kong Tennis Association has accused the women's world governing body of "bullying and intimidation" after being fined $10,000 for making "disparaging" remarks about Eugenie Bouchard for her last-minute withdrawal from the inaugural Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open last September, according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. HKTA President Herbert Chow Siu-lung said that "they would appeal against the fine and demand the Women's Tennis Association make an apology." He also said that "the punishment for the comments made to the South China Morning Post was an attack on free speech." Chow said, "I see this as an act of bullying and intimidation and I ask that this [HKTA] council responds responsibly to such injustice from the WTA." WTA Exec VP Laurence Applebaum said that "the HKTA had violated the world governing body's code of conduct by criticising Bouchard, who withdrew from the new event citing fatigue after playing at the US Open the previous week." Applebaum wrote, "The WTA has determined that your comments that 'Bouchard had failed to honour her commitment' and that 'she didn't keep her word' disparaged Ms Bouchard and called into question her integrity which imperiled her reputation and financial interests." Chow said that "it was a disgrace the WTA had chosen to take the Canadian's side." Chow: "I am baffled the WTA has ignored the efforts of the Hong Kong Tennis Open and just focused on protecting and spoiling one player. The conduct clause they cited was meant to protect all three stakeholders: the tournament, WTA and players" (SCMP, 1/7).
