Arts Games (AI tial MA ar G) M M & e r n o ’s o D d o n I u b n l a e i s s B A r r o o h h t t n n 5 5 z z e e e e h h • • T T • • 2 牌 me 0 Ga s M 1 銅 ty en 7 si ’ 年 r s D 亞 打 ve o 雙 i u 洲 子 n 室內 男 U b 暨 l 武藝 會 d e 運動 l s r B o r o W n 7 z 1 e e 0 0 • • 2 2 • • 2 牌 0 1 銅 7 年 打 台 雙 北 子 世 男 界 大 會 學 生 運 動 Hong Kong Tennis Association Room 1021, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong ANNUAL Tel: 25048266 • Fax: 28948704 www.tennishk.org REPORT Hong Kong Tennis Association HKTATennis 2017 HKTATennis CONTENT HKTA Overview 2 HKTA - Patrons and Council Members 2017 5 President's Report 3 Structure of HKTA 6 Highlights of the Year 4 HKTA Council 2017 13 Recapping the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2017 HKTA COMMITTEES 16 Executive Committee 26 League Management Committee 17 Coaches Development & Qualifications Committee 28 Membership & Corporate Affairs Committee 19 Community & Social Responsibility Committee 31 Officiating Committee 24 Finance Committee 34 Player Development Committee 25 Governance Committee 44 Tournament Committee APPENDIX - ROLL OF HONOR 48 Hong Kong National Tennis Championships 52 Longines Future Tennis Aces Representatives 48 Hong Kong National Junior Tennis Champions 52 WTA Future Stars Representatives Recipients of the Sports for Hope Foundation - 49 League (2006 - 2017) 52 Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards 52 Recipients of the D'Auriol Scholarship: 52 Road to Wimbledon Representatives Mission Statement 1. To promote tennis to all through the HKTA and collaborations with other tennis and governing bodies 2. To set and maintain the standards of the game to an international level and to nurture talented local players to compete in regional and international tournaments 3. To raise the standard of tennis by organizing local, regional, and international tournaments HONG KONG TENNIS ASSOCIATION PATRONS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS 2017 Life Patrons Dr. Stanley Ho, GBM, GBS ​​​​ Dr. Hu Fa-kuang, GBS, CBE, J.P. Honorary Patrons ​​The Honorary Ronald Arculli, GBM, CVO, GBS, OBE, J.P. The Honorary Timothy Fok, GBS, J.P. Herman Hu, SBS, J.P. Pang Chung, SBS President Philip Mok Hon. Secretary Dr. Joseph Wong Hon. Treasurer Clement Lee Vice Presidents Ronnie Cheng Lam Siu Wai Vincent Liang, J.P. Councillors Andy Brothers Jimmy Chang Mathew Cheng Michael Cheng Ponny Chow Oscar Chow Dr. David Ho Gordon Ng Jason Sankey Samson Siu Gary Sze Edmond Yue (HKTF) Chief Executive Officer Christopher Lai Auditor Linkers CPA Limited Hon. Legal Advisor Lo and Lo 2 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2017 STRUCTURE OF HKTA Executive Coaches Development & Qualifications Committee Sports Federation Committee & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Affiliated & Community & Social League Club Responsibility Committee Finance Committee Governance Committee ExecutiveLeague Management Committee Committee Membership & Corporate Affairs Committee Officiating Committee Community Tennis Clubs Player Development Committee Tournament Committee Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2017 3 HKTA COUNCIL 2017 President Philip Mok Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Vice President Vice President Vice President Dr. Joseph Wong Clement Lee Ronnie Cheng Lam Siu Wai Vincent Liang, J.P. Councillors Andy Brothers Dr. David Ho Edmond Yue (HKTF) Gary Sze Gordon Ng Jason Sankey Jimmy Chang Mathew Cheng Michael Cheng Oscar Chow Ronny Chow Samson Siu 4 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2017 PRESIDENT'S REPORT This year is proving to be another eventful one in terms of local development, the number of adult and junior tournaments we stage, to Hong Kong representatives coming home with encouraging results both internationally and regionally. I want to congratulate Kevin Wong and Brian Yeung on capturing a bronze in men's doubles at the World University Games. Not only is it a commendable achievement, winning a medal for Hong Kong on a renowned world arena unquestionably is a powerful impetus towards popularising tennis locally. Aside from garnering positive exposure, achieving a robust growth in the sport's participation rate among the general populace is equally important for us. Jack Wong and Kevin Wong also brought back a men's doubles bronze from Ashgabat, Tajikistan, where the Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games took place. Indeed, medalling at an international multi-sports event is acknowledgement that tennis is making headway and that our players can compete at these levels with the aim of improving further. Overall, we are moving in the right direction. Junior development remains a key focus for us and I am elated to report that one of our top players, fifteen-year-old Cody Wong, captured her maiden ITF Junior Circuit girls' singles title at the Grade 2 event in Beijing. She is the first player to triumph at this level since Zhang Ling last managed this feat in 2005. Cody is now ranked No. 148 in the world among all girls under the age of 18. However, when considering juniors of her age group only, Cody is the 18th best player in the world according to ITF Junior World Rankings. We also received news that funding for elite training programmes as an HKSI Tier A Sport is now extended by the Sports Institute for another two years until March 2021. At present, there are five men and four women - Roger Ng, Jack Wong, Kevin Wong, Brian Yeung, Skyler Butts, Zhang Ling, Katherine Ip, Ng Kwan Yau, and Wu Ho Ching - who are full-time tennis players and we certainly welcome this aid to give them the best opportunity to excel in their endeavours. Mr Herman Hu, SBS, JP has been presented with the Awards For Services to the Game by the International Tennis Federation at the Annual General Meeting in 2017. This award is for persons who have rendered long and outstanding services to the game of tennis. Mr Hu was the Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong Tennis Association from December 1987 to January 2002 and has been the President of the Hong Kong Veterans’ Tennis Association since 2012. In 2014, Mr Hu was awarded the Honorary Patron of HKTA for his service throughout the years. Mr Hu is only the 5th person from Hong Kong to receive the Awards For Services to the Game, and my congratulations to Mr Hu. Lastly, I want to thank our CEO, Chris Lai, and his dedicated staff for running successfully as the organiser of a major WTA Tour event such as the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, and handling the mini-crisis on finals day so adeptly in the face of such unpredictable weather. Every tennis lover has a role to play, however big or small. You can help us popularise the sport any which way you can, be it coming out to support our players compete or donating an extra racquet to our communities programme. Tennis is a fun game and a fantastic way to stay in shape, yet it can also impact life in so many positive ways. So, get involved, give us your ideas, and follow our news! President Philip Mok Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2017 5 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2017: Pavlyuchenkova Beats Gavrilova In Three- Set Cliffhanger Although Tropical Cyclone Khanun threatened to cause bedlam on finals Sunday, world No. 21 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova outgunned Australian seventh seed Daria Gavrilova in a thriller, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3), to lift the trophy. The Russian 6th seed served for match twice in the third set, but the pugnacious Aussie broke back each time to remain afloat. Pavlyuchenkova then fell behind 3-1 in the deciding tiebreak but found a higher gear at the most opportune time to take the next seven points in a row to conclude proceedings. The top-seeded sister pairing of Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching from Chinese Taipei was all business, as they defeated China's Wang together to prep the courts ready for the finals after the incoming Qiang and Lu Jia-Jing, 6-1, 6-1, to repeat as doubles champion. typhoon was threatening to wreak havoc to the conclusion of the tournament. Buoyed by a significant increase in prize money to US$500,000, the fourth edition of the Open attracted the likes of Eugenie The tournament offered free entry on People's Monday and Bouchard, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, Venus Williams, Students' Tuesday to vigorously promote sports at the community Agnieszka Radwanska, Elena Vesnina, Zhang Shuai, Wang Qiang, level and to create more opportunities for the underprivileged Samantha Stosur, among other leading players, and young up- and less well-resourced to attend major sports events. and-comers. More fan-friendly and family-oriented activities were made Our Tournament Director, Chris Lai, extends his sincere gratitude available with unrestricted access to the Tournament Village, and to the HKTO Steering Committee members, tournament team, we also organised several charity & fundraising activities, such security company, venue set-up contractor, in addition to the as the CAN Challenge and Celebrity Luncheon in collaboration many volunteers, ballboys, ballgirls, and linesmen for working with Friends of Asia Hong Kong, our Official Charity Partner. The involvement of WTA players with various community oriented activities visiting, preparing, and serving meals to the elderly through Food Angel, as well as attending Kids' Day to engage interaction with local primary schoolchildren, is also a huge boost to local tennis and helps nurture a stronger sporting culture in Hong Kong.