The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has confirmed the relocation of the ATP Tour 250 in Pune, India to Hong Kong SAR in 2024. The step was taken after the ATP Board approved the relocation by tournament owner IMG. The tournament returns to Hong Kong’s Victoria Park Tennis Centre after a 21-year absence.
The new tournament will take place from 1-7 January on outdoor hard courts with total prize money of more than $650,000. A few days back a report regarding the relocation of the ATP Tour 250 in Pune surfaced along with the possibility of Chennai also losing its WTA event which was played for the first time in 2022. This WTA tournament also marked the return of a professional women’s tennis tournament in the country after a long hiatus since 2008.
Talking about this decision, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, of Tennis Events, IMG, Gavin Forbes stated that Hong Kong has emerged as a massive tennis market and it further always players to travel for the Australian Open conveniently. He said, “Following a successful five years in Pune, we are excited to bring an ATP Tour event back to Hong Kong after a more than 20-year hiatus. We would like to thank the tennis fans in Pune for their support these past years.
“Hong Kong is an established tennis market with a passionate fanbase, and it is a convenient, competitive stop for players on their way to the Australian Open. We look forward to working with HKCTA and using IMG’s unparalleled expertise in tennis to kick off the 2024 season with an exceptional experience in Hong Kong,” he continued
The President, of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association Philip Mok expressed excitement about this decision. As quoted in the ATP release, Mok said, “Our goal has been to bring an ATP Tour level event back to Hong Kong for several years, and we are thrilled to make it a reality."
