https://www.scmp.com/rss/117/feed The latest tennis news, fixtures, match reports, grand slams and results. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Alexandra Eala was planning to “disappear for a bit and lie low” after she suffered a chastening Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open final defeat by an inspired Claire Liu on Sunday, as the American claimed the first WTA 250 title of her career. After breaking Liu to lead 2-1 in the opening set, Eala, nursing a knee problem and unable to make any inroads against her irresistible opponent’s serve, dropped 11 of the next 12 games to lose 6-3, 6-0 in one hour and 33 minutes. Still, after the best... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373695/hong-kong-blow-alexandra-eala-american-claire-liu-ends-title-wait https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373695/hong-kong-blow-alexandra-eala-american-claire-liu-ends-title-wait Sun, 08 Nov 2026 10:07:18 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press World No 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Saturday because of a viral illness. Defending champion Rybakina said in a statement that she was “not physically ready to compete” in the traditional season-ender, which starts on Sunday, and would focus on resting and recovering for her 2027 campaign. “I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year,” Rybakina said in a statement. “I’ve had an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373672/world-no-1-elena-rybakina-out-wta-finals-begin-marta-kostyuk-stepping https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373672/world-no-1-elena-rybakina-out-wta-finals-begin-marta-kostyuk-stepping Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:00:37 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Local fan favourite Alexandra Eala had to dig deep amid stops and starts to earn a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari on Saturday, booking her place in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open final. The evenly matched semi-final between the two seeded players was filled with extraordinary shots from both players, and a lot of rainwater and match suspensions. “I think it was just blank [during those rain stops], it took a lot of patience, but a lot, a lot, a lot of people stayed,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373660/philippines-alexandra-eala-wins-stop-start-rainy-affair-book-hong-kong-open-final-spot https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373660/philippines-alexandra-eala-wins-stop-start-rainy-affair-book-hong-kong-open-final-spot Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:41:48 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Alexandra Shubladze’s mother and coach, Oksana, was overcome with emotion courtside after her daughter beat Sorana Cirstea into retirement on Friday to reach the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open semi-finals. Competing in a main WTA 250 draw for the first time, Shubladze, whose progress was stalled by a torn anterior cruciate ligament two years ago, blew away Cirstea, the shell-shocked No 1 seed, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 27 minutes. Now, having achieved one “childhood dream” in Hong Kong when she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373608/sorana-cirstea-confirms-retirement-after-hong-kong-exit-defends-under-fire-mirra-andreeva https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373608/sorana-cirstea-confirms-retirement-after-hong-kong-exit-defends-under-fire-mirra-andreeva Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:03:19 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong tennis chief Michael Cheng Ming-git revealed plans to improve the skills of young players by sending them overseas to a training centre in Europe. Teenage players who were on the professional tennis path would be expected to spend several years playing at a higher level outside Hong Kong in Spain because “that is the only way up” in the game, according to Cheng. Spain was chosen as the location for the training centre because of its competitive environment and track record of producing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373563/hong-kong-tennis-chief-eyes-training-centre-spain-improve-skills-young-players https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373563/hong-kong-tennis-chief-eyes-training-centre-spain-improve-skills-young-players Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan It was not just the “basic stuff” on the court: Wang Xinyu also wants to improve the mental side after her season ended on Thursday at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. Tournament sixth seed Wang did not look at her best throughout the match as she lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to Antonia Ruzic, failing to get past the second round on her third appearance in the city. The world No 81 Croatian, who is ranked more than 40 places below Wang, will now play Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala, who beat the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373442/chinas-wang-xinyu-says-its-been-challenging-year-her-season-ends-hong-kong-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373442/chinas-wang-xinyu-says-its-been-challenging-year-her-season-ends-hong-kong-open Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:23:25 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara One of the last women standing in an attritional Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open has labelled the sport’s relentless calendar “brutal and gruelling”, as 2023 champion Leylah Fernandez on Wednesday added her name to a list of high-profile withdrawals from the tournament. Claire Liu, who delivered a fine second-round performance on Victoria Park Tennis Stadium’s centre court to oust No 8 seed Katie Boulter, also disclosed that she recently deleted her Instagram account because of the hateful... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373308/leylah-fernandez-latest-hong-kong-open-withdrawal-brutal-calendar-takes-toll https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373308/leylah-fernandez-latest-hong-kong-open-withdrawal-brutal-calendar-takes-toll Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:00:08 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Maya Joint credits her win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon as the “real turning point” of her year after she continued her strong end to the campaign with a straight sets win over fellow Australian Maddison Inglis in her opening match at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. The 20-year-old, who hit a career-high ranking of world No 28 in February, endured a nightmare period after reaching the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International in January, losing nine matches in a row and gaining... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373201/maya-joint-credits-win-over-serena-williams-turning-point-strong-end-season https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373201/maya-joint-credits-win-over-serena-williams-turning-point-strong-end-season Wed, 04 Nov 2026 02:52:53 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara One year after she “hated myself on the court”, a more content Maria Sakkari said it was “kind of irrelevant” whether she recaptured the form that propelled her to world No 3 and into two grand slam semi-finals. The Greek, who will face Maya Joint in round two of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Wednesday, tumbled down the rankings after she sustained a serious shoulder injury during the 2024 US Open. On her return in early 2025, Sakkari’s form dipped to the point that she found herself... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373172/maria-sakkari-hated-myself-court-happy-hong-kong-and-ignoring-online-abuse https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373172/maria-sakkari-hated-myself-court-happy-hong-kong-and-ignoring-online-abuse Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala said there were few better places to wrap up a tennis season after battling past Emerson Jones at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Tuesday. Playing in Hong Kong for the second time, after her debut last year, Eala also said she was “super happy” to come back and start her quest to end the season on a high with a win. The Filipino was set to renew her rivalry with American Alycia Parks in the first round, but the world No 59 from Florida withdrew about... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373181/alexandra-eala-super-happy-be-back-aims-finish-season-high-hong-kong-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3373181/alexandra-eala-super-happy-be-back-aims-finish-season-high-hong-kong-open Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:55:10 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Zeynep Sonmez said she was “grateful” and “inspired” by her tennis friends such as Alexandra Eala and Eva Lys as she kicked off her Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open with a straight sets victory over Dayana Yastremska. The 24-year-old took the lion’s share of the support from the crowd as she edged through a tight opening set 6-4, before turning that momentum into a dominant 6-2 showing in the second to wrap up the match. “Hong Kong has been wonderful; the environment is great and I’m very happy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373165/zeynep-sonmez-inspired-tennis-friends-she-marches-through-hong-kong-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373165/zeynep-sonmez-inspired-tennis-friends-she-marches-through-hong-kong-open Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After moving back to Ukraine last year, Oleksandra Oliynykova has struggled with the dichotomy of living a “glamorous life” on the global tennis tour while her homeland remains under deadly attack from Russian forces. Oliynykova did not talk much about her sport after she was beaten by Talia Gibson in the first round of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Tuesday. Instead, the conversation focused on the pride she feels in her partner and father for their courage in fighting the war as part... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373150/ukraine-tennis-player-calls-donald-trump-aid-russia-war-pride-dad-frontline https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373150/ukraine-tennis-player-calls-donald-trump-aid-russia-war-pride-dad-frontline Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:37:40 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Venus Williams has left the door open to quitting tennis after the American great slumped to a 17th consecutive singles loss on Monday, going down in straight sets to compatriot Mary Stoiana in the opening round of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. A shadow of the player who claimed 23 grand slam titles in her pomp, Williams dropped her serve four times and did not create one break point in a 6-2, 6-3 defeat by world No 113 Stoiana that ended her 2026 singles campaign. “I haven’t made any... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373031/venus-williams-drops-retirement-hint-after-hong-kong-tennis-open-exit https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3373031/venus-williams-drops-retirement-hint-after-hong-kong-tennis-open-exit Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:16:51 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong Chak-lam settled for second best in yet another ATP Challenger final after losing 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to France’s Térence Atmane at the Seoul Open on Sunday. The defeat pushed Wong’s career ATP Challenger finals record to 1-7, with his only victory coming in Jiujiang in China in May, when he edged Adam Walton of Australia 7-5, 7-6 to become the first Hongkonger to ever win an ATP title. Last weekend, Wong lost to Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate in the final of the ATP... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3372892/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-loses-seoul-open-second-straight-challenger-final-defeat https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3372892/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-loses-seoul-open-second-straight-challenger-final-defeat Sun, 01 Nov 2026 12:00:29 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Two of the region’s rising stars could be on a collision course after Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala and Chinese teenage starlet Sun Xinran were picked on the same side of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open draw on Saturday. Eala will take on Alycia Parks in the first round, while Sun, who is set to play in only her second WTA250 event in as many weeks, has Czech player Tereza Valentova in her way. The 46-year-old seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams will play compatriot Mary... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3372838/hong-kong-open-eala-collision-course-sun-williams-drawn-against-stoiana https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3372838/hong-kong-open-eala-collision-course-sun-williams-drawn-against-stoiana Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:04:58 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Leylah Fernandez hailed her “mental fortitude” after setting up a Pan Pacific Open title clash against Russia’s Diana Shnaider on Saturday. The world No 23 from Canada defeated Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 7-5, 6-3 in Tokyo to reach a second final in a row. Fernandez won her first title of the season in Singapore in September and followed that up by reaching the decider last week in Ningbo, where she lost to world No 1 Elena Rybakina. In Sunday’s final, Fernandez will face 13th-ranked Shnaider... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372824/leylah-fernandez-hails-mental-fortitude-after-reaching-pan-pacific-open-final-tokyo https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372824/leylah-fernandez-hails-mental-fortitude-after-reaching-pan-pacific-open-final-tokyo Sat, 31 Oct 2026 09:30:11 +0000 Agencies Agencies World No 1 Elena Rybakina hailed her “amazing achievement” after securing the year-end top ranking with a 6-2, 6-3 win over fellow Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in Japan on Thursday. Rybakina became the world’s top-ranked player for the first time last month in winning the US Open, replacing Aryna Sabalenka at the summit, needing only one ‌more victory this year to ensure the world No 2 Belarusian could not overtake her. She ensured she would start 2027 on top after a comfortable opening match in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372618/elena-rybakina-secures-year-end-top-rank-pan-pacific-open-win-tokyo-naomi-osaka-out https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372618/elena-rybakina-secures-year-end-top-rank-pan-pacific-open-win-tokyo-naomi-osaka-out Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Venus Williams has vowed not to be railroaded into retirement, but the American superstar raised the possibility that next week’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open could close the book on her extraordinary career. A 23-time grand slam champion, Williams suffered a 16th straight defeat when she was comfortably beaten by 18-year-old Lilli Tagger in the opening round of the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday. Williams has been winless in singles since marking her return from a 16-month lay-off with a victory... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372429/venus-williams-vows-quit-own-terms-could-hong-kong-be-end-americans-road https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372429/venus-williams-vows-quit-own-terms-could-hong-kong-be-end-americans-road Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Philippine sensation Alexandra Eala came from behind to beat Talia Gibson 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in Tokyo on Wednesday and said “it took a lot to turn that match around”. The world No 19’s recent run of early tournament exits looked in danger of continuing when Australia’s Gibson, ranked 38, took the first set at the Pan Pacific Open. But Eala dug in and evened the match before hitting top gear in a dominating third set. The 21-year-old said the turnaround had been “a gradual increase of level”. “Maybe... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372477/philippines-alexandra-eala-recovers-move-pan-pacific-open-quarter-finals-tokyo https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372477/philippines-alexandra-eala-recovers-move-pan-pacific-open-quarter-finals-tokyo Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:01:27 +0000 Reuters Reuters Leading men’s doubles players have called on the ATP Tour to reconsider ⁠plans that would reduce the ⁠size of the doubles competitions at ⁠events and move prize money to the singles format. In a letter addressed to the ATP board and management and signed by 137 active players, 33 former players and 20 federations, the group said it understood the need for reform, but was deeply concerned about ‌the plans being discussed. The ATP said this month it was reviewing potential changes to the size of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372259/top-doubles-players-urge-atp-bosses-rethink-changes-would-gut-sport https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3372259/top-doubles-players-urge-atp-bosses-rethink-changes-would-gut-sport Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:00:23 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Alexandra Eala crashed out in the Ningbo Open last 16 on Thursday as world No 1 Elena Rybakina reached the quarter-finals on her return from injury when opponent Polina Kudermetova retired. Top seed and defending champion Rybakina was cruising 5-0 in eastern China when the world No 105 from Uzbekistan called it quits because of injury. Earlier, Philippine history-maker Eala suffered a battling straight-sets defeat to Diana Shnaider, the Russian world No 13 winning 7-5, 6-4 to book a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371817/philippines-eala-ousted-rybakina-moves-ningbo-open-last-8-return-injury https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371817/philippines-eala-ousted-rybakina-moves-ningbo-open-last-8-return-injury Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:56:53 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Zheng Qinwen’s status as a Prudential Hong Kong Open participant lasted just six days, but the city’s top tennis official does not believe her withdrawal on Sunday has damaged the tournament’s credibility. The Olympic champion had previously pulled out of the Wuhan Open, citing injury and fatigue, but said last week she was excited about the prospect of making her Hong Kong debut next month. Now, however, she has opted to end her season altogether, just weeks after making history as the first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3371333/bencic-fernandez-zheng-pulls-out-prudential-hong-kong-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3371333/bencic-fernandez-zheng-pulls-out-prudential-hong-kong-open Mon, 19 Oct 2026 01:32:18 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ended Rafael Jodar’s dream run at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, battling back to beat ‌his fellow Spaniard 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 and clinch the biggest title of his career. In Wuhan, meanwhile, French ⁠Open finalist ⁠Maja Chwalinska ⁠won her first title on the WTA tour as she shook off early nerves to beat Sonay ‌Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Wuhan Open final. The 25th-seeded Davidovich Fokina is set to climb 13 places to a career-high world No 13 when the rankings are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371321/davidovich-fokina-beats-jodar-win-shanghai-crown-chwalinska-wins-first-title-wuhan https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371321/davidovich-fokina-beats-jodar-win-shanghai-crown-chwalinska-wins-first-title-wuhan Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:05:17 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse Top seed Alexander Zverev fell to a relentless Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals on Saturday over three tense sets. Davidovich Fokina, ranked world No 26, fought back to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 and will play fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the final on Sunday. The 20-year-old Jodar beat fifth-seed Daniil Medvedev, a decade his senior, 6-3, 6-4 to deny the Russian former world No 1 a chance to return to the championship match he won in 2019. Jodar, ranked 13th, started the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371270/alexander-zverev-stunned-alejandro-davidovich-fokina-shanghai-semi-finals https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3371270/alexander-zverev-stunned-alejandro-davidovich-fokina-shanghai-semi-finals Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:59:00 +0000 Reuters,Associated Press Reuters,Associated Press Golf’s Asian Tour has postponed the Saudi International indefinitely and cycling’s Urban World Championships have been cancelled following a deadly attack on Riyadh, although local organisers said next year’s Asian Cup football tournament remained on track. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed ‌responsibility for Saturday’s strike on Riyadh’s international airport that killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300. The Urban Cycling World Championships had been scheduled for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3371147/asian-cup-football-remains-track-golf-cycling-events-affected-after-saudi-attack https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3371147/asian-cup-football-remains-track-golf-cycling-events-affected-after-saudi-attack Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:01:07 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Freshly crowned China Open champion Zheng Qinwen will be hoping to keep her renaissance on the court going when she makes her debut at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open in November. Zheng will be joined by Venus Williams, who is returning for the third time, and Alexandra Eala. The 24-year-old became the first Chinese player to clinch the Beijing title on Sunday and also made it to the US Open quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in September. “I am delighted to be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370710/chinese-star-zheng-qinwen-delighted-make-debut-hong-kong-tennis-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370710/chinese-star-zheng-qinwen-delighted-make-debut-hong-kong-tennis-open Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:07:02 +0000 Reuters Reuters Filipino star Alexandra Eala suffered a shock 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 first-round defeat against 217th-ranked Chinese qualifier Shi Han at the Wuhan Open on Monday, while seven-time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz ⁠lost ⁠7-5, 7-6 to ⁠unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs in the Shanghai Masters. The result in Shanghai also confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP’s year-end world No 1. Eala, the 13th seed, missed last week’s China Open to compete in the Asian Games in Japan, where she claimed a bronze medal for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370638/alexander-zverev-ends-year-no-1-ranking-after-carlos-alcaraz-loss-shanghai-masters https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370638/alexander-zverev-ends-year-no-1-ranking-after-carlos-alcaraz-loss-shanghai-masters Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:38:36 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Agencies Agence France-Presse,Agencies Freshly crowned China Open champion Zheng Qinwen withdrew on Monday from her home tournament in Wuhan, citing fatigue and a right shoulder injury. Zheng became the first Chinese player to clinch the Beijing title on Sunday by defeating reigning Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the final. It was Zheng’s first WTA 1000-level triumph and her first title since winning Tokyo two years ago. “I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Zheng said in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370542/china-open-champ-zheng-qinwen-withdraws-wuhan-citing-fatigue-shoulder-injury https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370542/china-open-champ-zheng-qinwen-withdraws-wuhan-citing-fatigue-shoulder-injury Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Zheng Qinwen became the first home winner of the China Open on Sunday as she beat Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4, in front of a partisan crowd in Beijing. The former world No 4 and current Olympic champion was a wild-card entry, having struggled with form and fitness after elbow surgery in 2025. At one point this year she had dropped as low as 122nd in the world. It was the 54th-ranked Zheng’s first title in nearly two years, and her first ever at the WTA 1000 level, and tears filled... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370507/zheng-qinwen-claims-china-open-title-beats-mirra-andreeva-straight-sets https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370507/zheng-qinwen-claims-china-open-title-beats-mirra-andreeva-straight-sets Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:36:56 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Cinemas across China will throw open their doors for a special showing on Sunday, but it isn’t the latest blockbuster fans are flocking to see – it’s tennis star Zheng Qinwen. The Olympic champion has finally broken her country’s China Open curse, and will be the first home player to compete in a singles final, men’s or women’s, since Chen Li lost to Chinese Taipei’s Wang Shi-ting in 1996. With the National Tennis Centre in Beijing selling out, cinemas across the mainland have opted to show the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370487/china-cinemas-tap-zheng-tennis-fever-gripping-country-ahead-womens-final https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3370487/china-cinemas-tap-zheng-tennis-fever-gripping-country-ahead-womens-final Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Agencies Agencies A resurgent Zheng Qinwen charged into the China Open final on Saturday, beating Elise Mertens 7-5, 6-2, and will play Mirra Andreeva for the title at her home tournament. It is another step in the Olympic gold medallist’s injury comeback, following a gritty showing at last month’s US Open, where she reached the quarter-finals. Zheng, a former world No 4, had struggled with her form since needing elbow surgery in 2025 and is a wild-card entry in Beijing. “I had a great performance tonight,” said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370453/resurgent-home-favourite-zheng-qinwen-charges-china-open-final-mirra-andreeva https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370453/resurgent-home-favourite-zheng-qinwen-charges-china-open-final-mirra-andreeva Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:05:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Home-grown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 at the China Open on Friday and storm into the semi-finals. Zheng, a wild-card entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year’s tournament, having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-final. The world No 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second-set... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370357/wild-card-zheng-qinwen-finally-wins-straight-sets-reach-china-open-semi-finals https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3370357/wild-card-zheng-qinwen-finally-wins-straight-sets-reach-china-open-semi-finals Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:41:06 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s historic men’s singles gold at the Asian Games had an impact far beyond earning him a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; it also secured tennis’ elite status in Hong Kong for another four years. Wong beat Wu Yibing of China in straight sets in the final at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Centre in Nagoya, becoming his city’s first singles winner at the continental Games. Bronze for Eudice Chong and Cody Wong Hong-yi in the women’s doubles made it the most successful Games... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3370152/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-eye-golden-pipeline-after-coleman-wong-secures-sports-future https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3370152/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-eye-golden-pipeline-after-coleman-wong-secures-sports-future Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Tennis star Coleman Wong Chak-lam said he longed for nothing more than some decent rest at home and eating with friends after he returned to Hong Kong from a hectic two weeks involving three different cities. Off the back of a quarter-final appearance at the Hangzhou Open, Wong won five matches on the trot to win Asian Games gold in Nagoya, before breaking into the Shanghai Masters main draw following back-to-back wins in the qualifiers. Following his loss to Quentin Halys of France in straight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3370217/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-looking-ahead-rest-meals-friends-after-hectic-2-weeks https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3370217/hong-kongs-coleman-wong-looking-ahead-rest-meals-friends-after-hectic-2-weeks Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:40:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Daniil ⁠Medvedev ⁠was disqualified ⁠from his China Open semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic after ‌hitting a rebounding ball into the crowd, hitting a spectator in the eye. Earlier on Monday, home hope Zheng Qinwen survived another three-set test to advance to the last 16, while former world No 1 Iga Swiatek staged a comeback in Beijing. World No 5 Medvedev was trailing ‌his semi-final 7-5, 5-3 and had lost ‌a point when he ⁠hit ⁠the ball coming off ‌the wall. The spectator, who was ‌sitting in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369813/zheng-qinwen-survives-another-three-set-test-china-open-djokovic-ousts-no-1-seed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369813/zheng-qinwen-survives-another-three-set-test-china-open-djokovic-ousts-no-1-seed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong windsurfers Wong Tsz-ho and Cheung Tsz-yuet both won Asian Games titles on Saturday, taking the city’s gold medal count into double figures for the first time since its athletes started competing in the multi-sport event in 1954. With Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s triumph in the men’s singles little more than an hour earlier securing a record-equalling eighth gold, victory on the water made it nine and 10 for the delegation in Japan. Not even a lack of wind at Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor could spoil... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3369649/asian-games-windsurfers-golden-double-takes-hong-kong-record-medal-haul https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3369649/asian-games-windsurfers-golden-double-takes-hong-kong-record-medal-haul Sat, 03 Oct 2026 06:08:02 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Siobhan Haughey called “pressure a privilege” on her way to adding yet more Asian Games gold to an already glittering resume – anyone watching Coleman Wong Chak-lam win his historic men’s singles title on Saturday might have been left wondering if he even knows what pressure is. The Hongkonger needed just one chance to wrap up a straight sets victory over China’s Wu Yibing, and for all the world looked as though he was just firing down aces on the practice court, and not on the verge of doing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369641/asian-games-hong-kongs-wong-claims-historic-tennis-gold-earns-la-olympics-spot https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369641/asian-games-hong-kongs-wong-claims-historic-tennis-gold-earns-la-olympics-spot Sat, 03 Oct 2026 03:17:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters Philippines tennis star Alexandra Eala saw her bid for Asian Games gold, and ⁠qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles ⁠Olympics, end in Thursday’s semi-finals after a stunning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to China’s world No 85 Wang Xiyu. Top seed and world No 18 Eala was looking to become the first woman from the Philippines to win the title. The 21-year-old will instead go home with only a bronze medal, which she had also won at the last Games in Hangzhou, where she also won bronze in the mixed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369453/top-seed-alexandra-eala-philippines-knocked-out-asian-games-semi-finals https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369453/top-seed-alexandra-eala-philippines-knocked-out-asian-games-semi-finals Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:29:34 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Alexandra Eala faces her toughest test of the Asian Games so far on Thursday when she takes on China’s Wang Xinyu in the semi-finals of the women’s singles. Victory will take the 21-year-old a step closer to gold, but after battling past Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland in the last eight, she said it had not been an easy decision to come to Japan in the first place. While Eala and the rest are in Nagoya, the China Open is taking place in Beijing, and as a WTA 1000 event, it is mandatory for tour... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369398/asian-games-eala-takes-wang-gold-her-sights-olympics-her-dreams https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369398/asian-games-eala-takes-wang-gold-her-sights-olympics-her-dreams Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:36:13 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Zheng Qinwen begins her China Open campaign on Friday confident she can recapture the form that made her among the best women’s players in the world, despite the pressures that come from trying to win at home. The former world No 4 and Olympic gold medallist said she was fully prepared for what lay ahead, even though she dropped outside the top 100 at one stage this season. But an impressive run to the quarter-finals of the US Open has helped her bounce back to near the top 50, and good... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369353/zheng-qinwen-confident-mood-ahead-china-open-admits-pressure-playing-home https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3369353/zheng-qinwen-confident-mood-ahead-china-open-admits-pressure-playing-home Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:31:55 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Tennis legend Billie Jean King and two former professionals acknowledged modern players are suffering from burnout, but believed any change would be affected by the differing needs of elite players and rest, and the commercial pressure of tournaments. At present, WTA rules say players ranked in the top 30 must compete in all grand slams and ten WTA 1000 tournaments, and skipping these events results in ranking penalties and heavy financial fines that directly damage world standings and core... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3368891/billie-jean-king-says-reforming-tennis-challenge-schedule-sparks-burnout-concerns https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3368891/billie-jean-king-says-reforming-tennis-challenge-schedule-sparks-burnout-concerns Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:30:11 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Zheng Qinwen’s sponsors have proved even more excited than her long-awaiting fans, kicking off a new round of commercial campaigns to capitalise on her 69-spot surge to world No 52 after her comeback run at the US Open. Following her amazing comeback victories at the year’s final grand slam event in New York, where she lost only to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, her sponsors posted celebratory campaigns, competing to highlight their early faith in her resilience. Among... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367927/chinese-star-zheng-qinwen-gets-massive-show-sponsor-support-she-surges-rankings https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367927/chinese-star-zheng-qinwen-gets-massive-show-sponsor-support-she-surges-rankings Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The city’s tennis chief is “quietly confident” that Filipino superstar Alexandra Eala, and fellow main attractions Paula Badosa and Diana Shanider, will show up for the 2026 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open in November. In the past two years, Michael Cheng Ming-git has seen Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu both withdraw with injuries on the eve of the WTA 250 tournament. But the president of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association said the “issue about no-shows has got nothing to do with the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367920/city-tennis-chief-quietly-confident-alexandra-eala-will-play-hong-kong-open https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367920/city-tennis-chief-quietly-confident-alexandra-eala-will-play-hong-kong-open Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Philippines Tennis Association (Philta) has filed a ⁠request with the ⁠WTA on behalf of ⁠Alexandra Eala, requesting an exemption from the mandatory China Open so that the world No 18 can represent her country at the Asian Games. Eala, who has become a fan favourite ‌with wins over some of the biggest names on the circuit including Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, is the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw at the Asian Games, which begin on Saturday and conclude on October... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367733/philippines-seeks-wta-exemption-alexandra-eala-skips-china-open-asian-games https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367733/philippines-seeks-wta-exemption-alexandra-eala-skips-china-open-asian-games Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s decades-old tennis facilities at Victoria Park will be redeveloped, the city’s leader said on Wednesday, a move that could open the way to holding bigger tournaments in the future. Speaking during his annual Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the plan was “to strengthen the promotion of ‘sports and mega-events’.” At the moment, Hong Kong holds the rights to stage a WTA and an ATP tournament, both at the 250 level. The first of those is the Prudential Hong Kong Open... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3367724/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-hail-victoria-park-revamp-plans-eye-wta-atp-500-tournaments https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3367724/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-hail-victoria-park-revamp-plans-eye-wta-atp-500-tournaments Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse The stars aligned in Elena ⁠Rybakina’s favour for a US ⁠Open triumph the Kazakh never expected ⁠on Saturday, as she leaves New York the champion and new world No 1 despite an injury that almost derailed her campaign. Rybakina beat the twice defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the trophy little more than three weeks after an ankle injury that forced her out of the ‌Cincinnati tune-up tournament, raising serious questions over whether she would even compete in New York. “I was so upset. I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367345/injury-fears-triumph-everything-aligned-us-open-elena-rybakina-says https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3367345/injury-fears-triumph-everything-aligned-us-open-elena-rybakina-says Sun, 13 Sep 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The newest tennis star in China said she wanted to be like Zheng Qinwen and hoped she could play against the Olympic champion on the professional tour one day, after reaching the US Open girls’ singles final. Sun Xinran beat Chukwumelije Clarke of the United States 7-5, 0-6, 6-1 to reach the final, where she will face fifth seed Russian teenage girl Anna Pushkareva. New York is the third grand slam final for Sun this year, after reaching the last two at the French Open and Wimbledon, but she has... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367299/chinas-newest-tennis-star-sun-facing-familiar-foe-third-junior-grand-slam-final https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367299/chinas-newest-tennis-star-sun-facing-familiar-foe-third-junior-grand-slam-final Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Zheng Qinwen’s storming run through qualifying to the US Open quarter-finals has the 2024 Olympic gold medallist finally feeling like a force on the court again. The Chinese star fell in three sets to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, but her time in New York was a leap in the right direction for the former world No 4. After her lengthy recovery from elbow surgery last year was followed by a string indifferent results, Zheng’s ranking dropped so low that she had to come through three qualifying... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366984/resurgent-zheng-takes-positives-storming-us-open-run https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366984/resurgent-zheng-takes-positives-storming-us-open-run Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:17:13 +0000 Agencies Agencies At the end, when five riveting sets and one agonisingly tight tiebreak were over – and when the latest-finishing match in US Open history had concluded – Ben Shelton was not the only player smiling. Carlos Alcaraz, the player Shelton had just defeated in an entertaining, spine-tingling marathon, was smiling too. The dethroned defending champ grinned as he walked to the net to hug Shelton. And he did so again a few minutes later when he stood in a hallway surrounded by reporters, reflecting on a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366904/ben-shelton-stuns-carlos-alcaraz-late-late-show-reach-us-open-semi-finals https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366904/ben-shelton-stuns-carlos-alcaraz-late-late-show-reach-us-open-semi-finals Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:24:27 +0000 Josh Ball,Stephy Zhang Josh Ball,Stephy Zhang Zheng Qinwen has described her slow return to form as a painful rebirth that left her questioning herself and led to “uncomfortable conversations” with her parents and coaches. After months of struggling on the tour, the Chinese star has returned to form at the US Open, and produced a second thrilling win in a matter of days on Monday in New York, battling back from 5-0 down to beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals. The former world No 4 has been in such poor form for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366715/nothing-lucky-about-beating-swiatek-zheng-says-after-reaching-us-open-last-8 https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3366715/nothing-lucky-about-beating-swiatek-zheng-says-after-reaching-us-open-last-8 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:02:45 +0000