Press Release MARQUEE PLAYERS CONFIRMED FOR PRUDENTIAL HONG KONG TENNIS OPEN Kerber, Venus, Wozniacki, Stosur, and Cornet headline 2016 field (6 September, 2016 - HONG KONG) –Organised by Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA), fully supported by the Mega Events and title sponsored by Prudential Hong Kong Limited, Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 (PHKTO) is thrilled to announce Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Samantha Stosur, and Alize Cornet as the marquee players for this year. From 8-16 October 2016, more than fifty of the world's best female players will compete in singles and doubles for a prize purse worth USD250,000 here at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Prior to the press conference, PHKTO has already announced players including former number one and defending champion Jelena Jankovic, China's rising star and 2014 Asian Games singles Champion Wang Qiang and British number one Johanna Konta, as well as the French Open double champion Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. Today the tournament welcomes first joiner, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, world number two and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, five-time WTA singles titles winner Samantha Stosur and five-time WTA singles titles winner Alize Cornet. HKTA President, Philip Mok, enthused, "We're in our third year and the line-up is getting stronger and stronger each time. To be able to see so many great players up close and personal is definitely inspiring to our players." "We are bringing world-class tennis to Hong Kong, but at the same time, we are utilizing it as a platform to make the sport more accessible to all," he added. "The Mega Events Fund is pleased to support this tennis tournament again this year by providing a sponsorship of a maximum of $9 million. With the participation of more world renowned star professional tennis players, we hope the event will continue to attract locals and visitors alike, thereby enhancing Hong Kong's international profile and raising our status as the events capital of Asia," said by Emily Mo, Secretary to the Mega Events Fund Assessment Committee cum Assistant Commissioner for Tourism. "Prudential is committed to promoting a healthy, active lifestyle for the local community and encouraging more people to pick up a tennis racquet," said Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia Limited, Tony Wilkey. "We have launched a flagship CSR initiative "Let's Serve" this year, offering tennis clinics for around 10,000 primary and secondary students. We also expect to have one hundred outstanding young players to attend the "KIDS' Day’" on "People's Monday", where they will get the chance to play with some of the WTA pros," he added. PHKTO Steering Committee Chairman, Oscar Chow, echoed similar sentiments, "We are pleased to have the enormous support from the Mega Events Fund, and have Prudential as the Title Sponsor for the third consecutive year. We also want to thank Major Sports Events Committee for granting the tournament an "M" Mark status." "The first day of the tournament is a public holiday. The tournament opener will be a captivating free-style tennis performance and dragon dance in the opening ceremony. A number of marquee players and local community leaders will also participate in the "CAN Challenge", PHKTO's main fundraiser, to resonate our mission of tennis for all," he added. Qualifying matches taking place from 8-9 October are free of admission. Non ticketholders are also welcome to visit tournament village that offers interactive games, live match broadcasts via giant screen TV, a selection of fine food and beverages, and the chance to get players autographs. The HKTA also announces Friends of Asia Hong Kong as the tournament's "Official Charity Partner" this year. They have generously agreed to match dollar-for-dollar the amount raised from PHKTO's charitable events this year. Their matching donations will go toward InspiringHK Sports Foundation's Rope-Skipping Inspires Programme for underprivileged youth, as well as Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Foundation's Cancer Fund Programme, which provides PET/CT scans for underprivileged children cancer patients. Another charity initiative is "Bounce for Charity", a collaboration between the HKTA and its "Official Mall Partner", LEE GARDENS. Fans can customize their own tennis balls for just HK$50 for a good cause. There are also a number of fun-filled activities in September and October, such as interactive VR and web-based games, with gifts totalling over a million dollars. From 15-16 October, organisers will also set up a FANZONE on Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay, a designated pedestrian-only area on the weekends, where fans can participate further. For more, please visit www.hktennisopen.hk. Photo caption: Please download the photos from the drop box link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/helj1cca52b0d00/AACxkgH3Sp662kc uWX_zskGfa?dl=0 Photo caption 1: (from left) Oscar Chow, Chairman of Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 Steering Committee, Tony Wilkey, Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, Yeung Tak Keung, Commissioner for Sports of Home Affairs Bureau, Emily Mo. Secretary to the Mega Events Fund Assessment Committee cum Assistant Commissioner for Tourism, Philip Mok, President of Hong Kong Tennis Association, and wildcard player Claudia Ng Hei Ching unveiled one of the most competitive player lineups in the history of Hong Kong tennis. Photo caption 2: 16-year-old Claudia Ng Hei Ching earned a qualifying wildcard to the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016. Photo caption 3: Hong Kong Beach Volleyball Team players, Cat Ng Tin Lai and May Wong Yuen Mei, look forward to taking part in the fundraising events of Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016, CAN Challenge and Bounce for Charity. Photo caption 4: Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 is supported by distinguished guests and sponsors who attended the press conference to echo this year’s theme “Tennis for All”. Photo caption 5: 2011 U.S. Open Champion Samantha Stosur adds more depth to the star-studded field at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016. Photo caption 6: Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki will join the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 for the first time. Photo caption 7: World No. 2 Angelique Kerber, who may become world No. 1 at the US Open, is one of the hottest draw cards at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016. Photo caption 8: Seven-time Grand Slam singles winner Venus Williams will star in the US$250,000 WTA International Series event. Photo caption 9: Alize Cornet expressed her excitement on making her Hong Kong debut in October. Photo caption 10: Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2015 Singles Champion Jelena Jankovic will return to Hong Kong to defend her title. This press release is delivered by Yello Marketing on behalf of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 Organizing Committee. For more information, please contact: Eva Lau Phone: (852) 3579 6887/ 9513 6742 Email: [email protected] Thera Lee Phone: (852) 3579 6881/ 9876 9314 Email: [email protected] About Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open is a WTA-sanctioned International Series Event and the eighth stop on the WTA Tour's Asian swing. Owned by the Hong Kong Tennis Association, the tournament is sponsored by the Mega Events Fund, recognised as an "M" Mark Event and supported by the Tourism Commission, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and Home Affairs Bureau, alongside Title Sponsor Prudential Hong Kong Limited. It is a community event with the goals of engaging people from all walks of life and fostering a passion for sport and physical activity in the region. This mega event will draw the participation of a number of world-class professional female tennis players. From 8 to 16 October 2016, more than 50 of the world's best female players will compete in singles and doubles for prize money of USD 250,000 at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Facebook : hktennisopen Twitter : @HKTennisOpen Instagram : hk_tennisopen Please visit www.hktennisopen.hk for more information. About the WTA The WTA is the global leader in women's professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations competing for $137 million in prize money. The 2016 WTA competitive season includes 57 events and four Grand Slams and the Olympic Games across 33 countries. In 2015, The WTA was watched by 395 million fans on television and digital channels around the world. The 2016 WTA competitive season concludes with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, from October 23-30, 2016 and the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China from November 1-6, 2016. About the Mega Events Fund The Mega Events Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural, sports and entertainment events to be staged in Hong Kong. With the approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the operation of the Fund has been extended for five years till the end of March 2017 with a view to attracting more internationally acclaimed mega events to Hong Kong and reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the events capital of Asia. About Prudential Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, we provide a range of financial planning services and products including individual life insurance, investment- linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance and employee benefits. Prudential plc is an international financial services group with significant operations in Asia, the US and the UK.