Content HKTA OVERVIEW 2 HKTA - Patrons and Council Members 2018 6 Highlights of the Year 3 Structure of HKTA 12 Recapping the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2018 4 HKTA Council 2018 17 HKTA Key Highlights 5 Report from the President HKTA COMMITTEES 18 Executive Committee 38 Officiating Committee 19 Player Development Committee 41 Community & Social Responsibility Committee 29 Tournament Committee 46 Membership & Corporate Affairs Committee 34 Coaches Development & Qualifications Committee 49 Finance Committee 36 League Management Committee 50 Governance Committee APPENDIX 51 Acknowledgement 56 Longines Future Tennis Aces Respresentatives 52 Best Results at ITF Junior Team World Finals 56 Recipients of the Sports for Hope Foundation - Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards 52 Hong Kong National Tennis Championships 56 WTA Future Stars Representatives 52 Hong Kong National Junior Tennis Championships 56 Road to Wimbledon Representatives 53 League (2007 - 2018) MISSION STATEMENT To promote tennis to all through the HKTA and collaborations with other tennis and governing bodies 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 To raise the standard of tennis by organizing local, regional, and international tournaments Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2018 1 HONG KONG TENNIS ASSOCIATION PATRONS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS 2018 STRUCTURE OF HKTA Life Patrons Dr. Stanley Ho, GBM, GBS ​​​​ Dr. Hu Fa-kuang, GBS, CBE, J.P. Executive Coaches Development & Dr. Henry Fok, GBM Sports Federation Committee Qualifications Committee & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Honorary Patrons ​​The Honorary Ronald Arculli, GBM, CVO, GBS, OBE, J.P. Affiliated & ​​​​ The Honorary Timothy Fok, GBS, J.P. Community & Social League Club Herman Hu, BBS, J.P. Responsibility Committee Pang Chung, SBS President Philip Mok Finance Committee Hon. Secretary Dr. Joseph Wong Hon. Treasurer Clement Lee Governance Committee Vice Presidents Ronnie Cheng Lam Siu Wai ExecutiveLeague Management Committee Vincent Liang, J.P. Committee Councillors Andy Brothers Jimmy Chang Membership & Corporate Mathew Cheng Affairs Committee Michael Cheng Oscar Chow Ronny Chow Officiating Committee Dr. David Ho Dr. Derek Ling Community Gordon Ng Tennis Clubs Samson Siu Player Development Committee Edmond Yue (HKTF) Jason Sankey* Chief Executive Officer Christopher Lai Tournament Committee Auditor Linkers CPA Limited Hon. Legal Advisor Lo and Lo * Note: Jason Sankey resigned his position as the councilor of Hong Kong Tennis Association effective 18 July 2018. 2 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2018 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2018 3 HKTA COUNCIL 2018 Report from the President I want to start by congratulating the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation (HKTF) The men’s doubles team of Kevin Wong and Brian Yeung backed up their on its 30th anniversary this year. Since its establishment in 1988, the win in Vietnam in May by capturing a pair of US$25,000 tournaments HKTF has underwritten many programmes organized by the HKTA. Besides in Hong Kong and Taipei. They are the first-ever all-Hong Kong doubles promoting initiatives in schools or at the grassroots level, funding from combination to triumph on the pro circuit, and for the year, they came home HKTF was also instrumental in providing competitive opportunities for with three titles from six finals. They were also unbeaten in Davis Cup some of the territory's leading juniors in their overseas tournament travels. doubles in Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2018. On behalf of the HKTA, I wish to extend a heartfelt gratitude for their I am also pleased to see that we played host to the 19th ITF Southern & East patronage over the years. Asian Regional Coaches Conference for the first time. For tennis to excel I am extremely pleased to report that at the Asian Tennis Federation's in Hong Kong, coaches must keep themselves well-informed of the latest AGM this month, HKTA received an award from the International Tennis developments in the coaching world and RCCs are designed to provide a Federation (ITF) in recognition of excellent progression in the development forum for exchange and discussions on coach education for coaches of of tennis in 2018, as well as an award from ATF in acknowledgment of the specific regions. These conferences bring together speakers from around Association's strides achieved in the overall growth and development of the world with an emphasis on player development with presentations on tennis in Hong Kong this year. We will most certainly endeavour to build on the most up-to-date sports science and coaching knowledge. This biennial President that further in 2019. event is a terrific opportunity to educate local coaches, emphasize the Philip Mok On top of that, this year's Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open has been importance of coaching in Hong Kong, and elevate HKTA’s standing in Asia voted by the WTA player body as the 2018 International Tournament of the as a world-class event organiser. Year. This accolade is a fantastic achievement in that the event has received In view of the Review on Policy of Private Recreational Leases published by recognition from WTA players as a result of the excellence of staff and the Home Affairs Bureau earlier in March, we submitted an official response organization, passionate fans, dedication to the sport, and its athletes. to HAB during the public consultation period expressing our support that The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open was again a tremendous success, private clubs should continue to operate under PRLs because of their with total prize money now up to US$750,000. Notable categories of contribution to tennis development in Hong Kong. These clubs have all statistics, such as total attendance, visitors to the Tournament Village, press played a significant role in the overall growth of the game for many years, coverage, and presence on social media, etc., all reached record highs some even for over a century, and they will continue to be an invaluable this year. On the court, we were treated to some terrific tennis by Garbine protagonist moving forward. Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, Wang Qiang, Zhang Shuai and, of course, our This year turned out to be both challenging and rewarding, and as 2018 Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Vice President Vice President Vice President new champion Dayana Yastremska, who is the first player born this century winds to a close, I want to thank all our HKTA Committee Chairmen and Dr. Joseph Wong Clement Lee Ronnie Cheng Lam Siu Wai Vincent Liang, J.P. to make it to the WTA top 100. members for the efforts they have undertaken to enhance the progress and The past twelve months saw some very encouraging results from our development of tennis in Hong Kong. My appreciation also goes to our players. Sixteen-year-old Cody Wong captured her first G1 girls’ singles Affiliated Clubs and tennis convenors whose efforts continue to sustain Councillors title and climbed to a career-best ITF ranking of No. 27. At the time, she the true competitive spirit and popularity of league tennis that first started was ranked No. 9 in the world and 4th in Asia for her age group. Seventeen- more than a century ago. Thank you also to our CEO Chris Lai and his staff year-old Roger Ng became the first local player to capture the boys’ singles for their hard work over another extremely hectic twelve months. They are title at the G2 Hong Kong Open Junior Championships and went on to peak the ones who make it happen and we are grateful for their contribution. To at No. 92 in the world. all the players, novice or pro, young, and old, thank you for supporting the HKTA. Both our 16U teams were competing at the Junior Davis & Fed Cup Finals by BNP Paribas in Budapest after the boys came 4th, and the girls 3rd, Any tennis enthusiast can contribute towards helping us promote the sport in Asia/Oceania to qualify in the same year for the first time. Up against in more ways than one, whether just coming out to cheer for our players or highly-touted opponents that included top juniors with several boasting spreading news and opinions about Hong Kong tennis to friends and fellow players. Believe me when I say no role is too small. Most of all, tennis is a Andy Brothers Jimmy Chang Mathew Cheng Michael Cheng Oscar Chow Ronny Chow ATP and WTA Rankings, Hong Kong placed 15th in JDC and 12th in JFC respectively. Not only was it an eye-opener and a source of invaluable fun way to stay physically and socially active and healthy, so keep playing match-play experience, it was also a stark reminder of the need to improve the game we love! the skill-set needed to play with confidence on clay, an advantage held by our opposition from the Americas and Europe for now. However, I must President point out that Sheena Masuda Karrasch (15), Tim Gauntlett (15), and Coleman Wong (14) were among some of the youngest at the World Finals in Budapest and they are still eligible to compete again next year. Hopefully, with the experience under their belts, they can reach even higher grounds in 2019. Dr. David Ho Dr. Derek Ling Gordon Ng Samson Siu Edmond Yue (HKTF) Jason Sankey* Philip Mok * Note: Jason Sankey resigned his position as the councilor of Hong Kong Tennis Association effective 18 July 2018. 4 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2018 Hong Kong Tennis Association Annual Report 2018 5 Highlights of the Year 18TH ASIAN GAMES PALEMBANG - JAKARTA 2018 TREBLE OF TITLES FOR KEVIN WONG & BRIAN YEUNG TeamHK turned heads at the 18th Asian Games when Eudice Chong produced the Since winning their doubles rubber against Lebanon in April, Kevin Wong and Brian Yeung biggest upset beating 3rd-seeded Incheon 2014 silver medalist, Luksika Kumkhum went on a tear and combined to reach six men's doubles finals on the ITF pro circuit, (THA), 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(1), in the second round of the women’s singles before capturing titles at the 15K Vietravel cup in Vietnam, 25K Sony Hong Kong F1 Futures, and getting past No.